Medicinal cannabis

Medicinal cannabis is funded by DVA in line with our Medicinal Cannabis Framework (the Framework). This page outlines the process that DVA Veteran Card holders need to follow to access funding if they are eligible. There are a number of factors that determine eligibility.

If you’re a medical practitioner, go to Medicinal cannabis information for providers.

What is medicinal cannabis

Medicinal cannabis includes regulated, pharmaceutical-grade cannabis products with labelled levels of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD). Products can be prescribed for therapeutic purposes, including to treat or to alleviate symptoms of some medical conditions.

Most medicinal cannabis goods are unapproved goods that have not been assessed for safety, quality, performance or effectiveness.

Where clinically appropriate, there are pathways for registered health professionals to prescribe access to unapproved medicinal cannabis products for their patients.

Who can access it

Medicinal cannabis funding can be considered for specific health conditions where DVA has an existing liability to treat the stated condition (conditions are listed further below). This includes Gold and Orange Veteran Card holders with ‘all conditions’ covered, or a White Veteran Card holder with an accepted condition.

When a doctor asks us for approval to fund medicinal cannabis, we consider the information they provide for each application on a case-by-case basis.

Before we can approve funding, you need to have previously received standard treatment for the same condition. We can only fund medicinal cannabis after standard treatments for your condition haven’t been successful.

To approve funding, your doctor needs to confirm to DVA that the product being prescribed:

• is clinically indicated, and a trial may be of benefit (for new requests)
• is clinically indicated, and treatment has been shown to be of benefit (for repeat requests), and
• under their relevant authorisations is allowed to prescribe the product.

In some situations, we will also need your treating doctor to arrange for a written assessment from a relevant, non-GP specialist who treats you for the nominated health condition. The specialist will need to confirm they support the application for medicinal cannabis for the nominated health condition.

We will consider funding medicinal cannabis for treatment of the following health conditions:

• chronic pain
• chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
• palliative care indications
• anorexia and wasting associated with chronic illness such as cancer
• spasticity from neurological conditions, and
• refractory paediatric epilepsy.

We cannot approve funding for medicinal cannabis for conditions where its use has not been proven to be effective, harmless and safe, such as treatment for a mental health condition.

How to access it

Medicinal cannabis is funded through the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS).

Speak to your treating doctor. They will assess you for medicinal cannabis treatment.

You will need to have an in-person consultation with your doctor when:

• being prescribed medicinal cannabis for the first time
• changing to a new prescriber, and/or
• for any changes to a prescription resulting in an increase from Tier 1 to Tier 2. 

Travel for treatment may be available to assist veterans with attending in-person appointments. 

Your doctor will contact us to get approval before they can prescribe it to you via the RPBS. We will ask them for information about your treatment and the products they plan to prescribe.

In some situations, your doctor can call the Veterans’ Affairs Pharmaceutical Advisory Centre (VAPAC) on 1800 552 580 to ask for approval for RPBS prescriptions. Whether they can arrange it over the phone depends on:

• the reason they’re prescribing it
• the number of products they’re prescribing, and
• how much THC is in the product(s) they’re prescribing.

In other situations, your doctor will need to apply in writing and include a written assessment from your relevant, treating non-GP specialist. Your doctor can then submit an authority prescription approval request. It is important to note that this process is not immediately after you see your doctor.

You can find more information about what we need from your doctor at Medicinal cannabis information for providers.

If we are able to approve the request from your doctor for funding either over the phone or through the written application, your doctor will need to arrange an authority prescription. You can take the prescription to any pharmacy of your choice which is able to dispense RPBS prescriptions.

You will need to pay the pharmacy the concessional co-payment of $7.70 each time the prescription is supplied unless you have reached the concessional safety net.

Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses

DVA only funds medicinal cannabis under the RPBS and it must be supplied by a pharmacy that can dispense RPBS items, via an approved Authority prescription.

Reimbursement of any expense privately incurred for consultations or products without an authority approval are subject to the same clinical guidelines outlined above.

DVA encourages clients to ensure their doctor is seeking RPBS Authority prescription approval for any medicinal cannabis, prior to receiving your prescription. This will ensure that you are accessing the product at the concessional rate.

DVA will only consider reimbursing eligible clients for the purchase of TGA-approved medicinal cannabis vaporisers when they are:

• used solely for the administration of dried herb medicinal cannabis,
• purchased within 3 months of medicinal cannabis being dispensed through the RPBS, and
• supplied via a pharmacy. 

The current list of vaporisers approved by the TGA can be found on the TGA website.

You will need to seek reimbursement by submitting a D1181 - Application for Reimbursement of Medical Expenses with your receipt to pharmacy.reimbursement@dva.gov.au.

If you are also seeking reimbursement of medicinal cannabis product that has not been provided through an RPBS Authority prescription, you must include a completed D9546 - RPBS Medicinal Cannabis Tier 2 Application that outlines the clinical rationale for funding (even if your request meets the criteria for a Tier 1 streamlined application).

Reimbursement is not guaranteed. DVA does not provide reimbursement as an avenue for ongoing funding of treatment. We will not reimburse for repeat visits to health providers who do not accept Veteran Cards. Please ensure funding requests for treatment are aligned with DVA policy and Schedules.

For more information on reimbursements, please visit Medical Expenses Privately Incurred (MEPI).

Where to find out more

If you want more information, you can contact us by:

• phone 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)
• email ppo@dva.gov.au

Feedback

Your feedback helps us deliver quality service to veterans and families. Read more about complaints, compliments and other feedback.

Other health bodies can also benefit from your input. To give feedback about:

• medicine quality or safety — contact the Therapeutic Goods Administration
• health professionals — contact Ahpra.

Privacy notice

Personal information is protected by law, including the Privacy Act 1988. Personal information may be collected by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) for the delivery of government programs for war veterans, members of the Australian Defence Force, members of the Australian Federal Police and their dependents.

You can access our Privacy Collection Notice for details on how we collect and manage personal information, including health information, in relation to medicinal cannabis funding applications.

Our privacy collection notice regarding health information provides further information about the purposes for which we collect health information and how we use, disclose and protect it for a variety of DVA programs and services.