4.5.12.6 Hospital direct orders
Private hospital orders
In Victorian private hospitals, the cost of discharge equipment is payable in addition to the in-patient bed fee. If in the opinion of the private hospital a worker requires the use of aids & equipment upon discharge following an accepted claim (i.e. as an outpatient) the hospital may be able to order the equipment directly from the supplier.
Ordering equipment directly without prior Agent approval
Equipment can be ordered:
- up to the value of $500 per item
- if the equipment is listed on the Hospital Direct - Equipment Order form
- from WorkSafe’s contracted equipment suppliers
The hospital can complete the form and submit it directly to a contracted equipment supplier. Equipment Service Plans (ESPs) will then be sent to the Agent by the contracted equipment suppliers after every Hospital Direct - Equipment Order form is processed. This should be placed on the claim file by the Case Manager.
Discharge equipment that cannot be directly ordered
The hospital cannot directly order high cost/customised discharge equipment listed below:
- hospital bed (incl. flexi beds)
- mattresses (hospital or flotation)
- manual or electric hoists (incl. slings)
- manual and electric wheelchairs ( incl tilt in space manual, lightweight, front or rear wheel drive, paediatric and any wheelchair requiring unique adjustments/alterations)
- pressure reducing cushions
- customised commodes - shower/shower transporter/bedside
- scooters
Prior approval for high cost/customised equipment
For the above high cost/customised equipment list - the hospital must send an Equipment Prescription form (EPF) to the Agent for prior approval and payment for these items.
For all other equipment - the hospital must send a written request to the Agent for approval.
Public hospital orders
For the first 30 days following worker discharge, Victorian public hospitals (including acute, sub-acute and rehab) are responsible for the provision of aids and equipment. The responsibility is the same irrespective of whether the item can be hired for that period or needs to be given to the worker as a purchase.
Items such as a hand held shower (with installation), wooden bath board, slide sheets, urinals cannot be hired and items that are required beyond the first 30 days does not extinguish the public hospital’s responsibility to supply the item for safe discharge.
Any request from the public hospital for the Agent to fund a purchase of aids and equipment must be denied.
When a request can be approved
The exception to the hospital’s responsibility to provide the equipment is where the equipment item is highly customised and required long-term as listed below. These items can be paid for by the Agent with prior approval:
- hospital bed (incl. flexi beds)
- mattresses (hospital or floatation)
- manual or electric hoists (incl. slings)
- manual and electric wheelchairs (incl. tilt in space manual, lightweight, front or rear wheel drive, paediatric and any wheelchair requiring unique adjustments/alterations)
- pressure reducing cushions
- customised commodes - shower/shower transporter/bedside
- scooters
Prior approval required
The public hospital must submit to the Agent an Equipment Prescription form (EPF) and obtain prior approval for payment of the equipment.