REVIEW OF WAR CAUSED DISABILITIES AND PHARMACEUTICAL
COSTS
Background.
I am a veteran with a Disability Pension (DP) of 80% and single Service Pension (SP)
commensurate to the amount of Defence Forces Retirement and Death Benefits (DFRDB)
received. I have been involved with the Training and Information Program (TIP).
Comments in regard to Option 1.
This option meets the Government’s commitment to pay for pharmaceutical costs in relation
to war caused disabilities and as stated in the Consultation Paper “it does not distinguish
pharmaceutical usage which is related to war caused disabilities, compared to usage for
other health issues. It therefore extends additional assistance beyond the scope of the
Government’s commitment.”
My comments on this are:
Does this mean The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) would be responsible for the
payment of all pharmaceutical usage of those who have Qualifying Service (QS) and
receiving any level of DP or will there be further administration by DVA to seek
reimbursement from either the veteran or from another Government Department for those
pharmaceutical costs not related to war caused disabilities? As stated in the Option 1.
“However, it would be reasonably simple to administer and for recipients to understand.”
Does Option 1 assume that veterans with QS and DP have a Gold Card or will this only apply
to Gold Card holders and does this also apply to White Card holders?
Option 1 does not spell out how it is intended to reimburse for out of pocket pharmaceutical
costs. I would assume that there would be no copayment made, no PA and the veteran
provided free pharmaceuticals; or would it be the requirement of the veteran to make a formal
claim for any out of pocket expenses after deduction of the PA?
Veterans the age of 70 and above with QS receive the Gold Card but may not be in receipt of
any DP (for whatever reason they may not have made a claim). Option 1 and Option 2 do not
show any consideration to the payment of their pharmaceutical needs either for war caused
injury or other non war caused injury. I would assume that veterans in receipt of this form of
Gold Card could be provided the same sort of free pharmaceuticals as that which is proposed
to apply to veterans with QS and DP .
Option 2 in my opinion will, as stated, could overpay some veterans and underpay others and
therefore does not meet the criteria of free pharmaceuticals for war caused disabilities.
I also agree with what is enclosed within the document that with the way the DP’s are entered
within the system it makes for difficulties in only paying for war caused disabilities.
I do know that once a Gold Card is issued there is less reason for a veteran to continue
processing any further claims as most pharmaceutical prescriptions are paid for. This should
also be considered in this review as it could cause an explosion of claims if the proposal to
pay for only “accepted” war caused disabilities applied.
I consider Option 1 as the most appropriate method with some further consideration
and advice to the veteran community before implementation.