7 September Changes to process for allied health referrals September 7, 2018 By Announcement, Department of Veterans Affairs allied health referral 0 The way that a General Practitioner (GP) refers DVA clients to allied health providers is set to change from July 2019. Currently, a GP may refer a client to allied health services for up to a year (except for dental and optical, for which no referral is required). For chronic conditions, the GP can make an ongoing referral. Under the new DVA arrangements, which will commence on 1 July 2019, GPs will be able to make a referral to allied health services for up to 12 sessions or one year, whichever comes sooner. This new arrangement will also apply to those clients with a chronic condition. Dental and optical services still will not need a GP referral. The new arrangements are called the ‘treatment cycle’. The treatment cycle is designed to improve quality of care for DVA cardholders, with more GP involvement in ongoing care. Read More Related Articles Changes to bulk billing arrangements for specialists and allied health Increases to allied health and mental health services for DVA clients in aged care residential facilities New program upskills allied health professionals for regional work A two-year education program will create incentives for allied health professionals to work in regional areas and better equip them with the skills they need for rural practice. My Health Record – Australians to decide on a smarter and safer way to share their important healthcare information By the end of 2018, a My Health Record will be created for every Australian, unless they choose not to have one. If people choose not to have a My Health Record, they will be able to opt out of having one created for them during a three-month period, starting on Monday 16 July and ending on October 15 2018 Increased use of My Health Record by healthcare providers Legislative changes to tighten privacy and security protections for My Health Record In response to a growing privacy backlash, the Federal Government has announced legislative changes to My Health Record to restrict access by law enforcement and government agencies and allow records to be deleted by those who choose to withdraw from the system, with the opt out period also expected to be extended. Comments are closed.