Yes, we accept referrals for hydrotherapy, but it’s important to note that it may take longer to commence the actual pool sessions than normal physiotherapy treatment sessions.

The reason for this is that we need to first conduct a land-based assessment with the client in their home. We use this to assess the client’s suitability for hydrotherapy, identify any mobility or safety considerations, jointly set some goals, and then formulate a treatment plan for when the in-pool sessions commence.

The commencement of the in-pool sessions will then depend on the client’s location and their preferred pool as there’s only certain physios in our team who get in the pool with clients… and we’re also limited by the need to coordinate with different swimming pools’ schedules (e.g. when lanes are open for public access rather than swimming lessons).

Yes, we accept referrals for Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT). Whenever we receive a referral for any balance related condition, as routine we undertake a comprehensive assessment of the client’s strength, balance, and mobility.

The reason for this is that balance problems are rarely the result of one area of deficit; this holistic approach allows us to address each underlying cause. We then use this information to create an individualised rehabilitation plan to help the client meet their falls prevention and movement goals.

If this assessment reveals that the client is suffering from Vertigo, however, we will recommend a referral to a specialist in this area.

We accept referrals for DVA, but on a case-by-case basis. If we accept these referrals, they are at no cost to the Veteran (DVA prohibits the charging of a gap fee).

We may be able provide in-home Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Dietetics; this is usually if appointments can be made to fit in with other clients that live close-by and are being visited at a similar time.

In some cases, we may be able to provide Occupational Therapy (OT) for veterans living in a remote area (over 70 km from our office in Frewville). The types of referrals we may accept are to provide an assessment for equipment or preparation of diagrams for home modifications. Unfortunately, we cannot provide Occupational Therapy services in the metropolitan area.

If we visit a couple and their needs overlap, then this often reduces the time needed for both the consultation and report writing. We won’t know if this is the case until we get out there though, so when we schedule our OTs to visit we allocate the usual amount of time per client.

The main reason for this is that when our OTs conduct a Home Safety Assessment, it’s not just the home that we’re actually assessing; we’re assessing the individual, and then how they’re impacted by their home environment.

Until this visit, we don’t know how each person interacts with their home environment or what their specific needs or goals are. While both clients might have a common need for something like a grab rail in the bathroom, one client might have difficulty negotiating steps at a front entrance, while the other might be completely fine with this task but have a specific need for the prescription of an electric recliner chair.

With that in mind, even though we initially schedule the full amount of time, this doesn’t mean we’ll automatically invoice for this full amount. If the clients’ needs overlap, and this reduces the time needed, then we reduce the invoices accordingly.

Yes, we can accept Medicare referrals from a client’s general practitioner. If the client has chronic and complex needs that are being managed by the GP using Chronic Disease Management (CDM) MBS items, and allied health services are recommended as part of a Team Care Arrangement (TCA), then the client may be eligible to receive up to 5 rebated allied health services per year.

Although many clients may have been informed that they are eligible to receive free services, it is a fixed-amount rebate which does not cover the full cost of our service (similar to how private health funds provide a rebate but don’t necessarily cover the full amount). Unlike private health though, Medicare prohibits us from charging the client a gap fee and then charging Medicare for the CDM rebate.

So to provide these services, we enter into a direct debit agreement with the client to charge the full service amount (the same as any other private client) and then the client can use the sales receipt to claim the rebate back through Medicare.

* The Medicare item number for these services (and also the associated rebate) is the same for both an initial and subsequent consultation. This means that the total out-of-pocket expense may vary depending on the type of consultation.

We are currently set-up to work with clients from a variety of funding sources, including but not limited to:

• Home Care Packages (HCP)
• Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP)
• Short Term Restorative Care (STRC)
• Rehab In The Home (RITH)
• Transition Care Program (TCP)
• Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)
• National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)