4.5.28 Nursing
4.5.28.1 Community nursing services
WorkSafe can pay the reasonable cost of nursing services at the request of a medical practitioner where required as a result of a work-related An injury/disease is work related if it arose out of or in the course of employment and the scope of employment. injury or illness.
Nursing services are services rendered by a registered nurse, other than at a hospital or as a member of the nursing staff of a hospital.
See: Cost of services
WorkSafe will only pay for nursing services by providers who are:
- registered by WorkSafe to provide nursing services and
- able to provide evidence of current professional indemnity insurance.
For information about WorkSafe’s required level of professional indemnity insurance can be found on WorkSafe’s Service Provider Registration Application for Medical and Allied Health Services.
Fee schedule
WorkSafe publish a fee schedule for the maximum payment rates.
See: Fee Schedule for Nursing Services
Request requirements for nursing services
Nursing services are a requested/referred service under the legislation. A worker can access a requested/referred service with a medical practitioner referral.
To pay for nursing services the medical practitioner referral must be provided to the Agent by the worker or healthcare provider.
Referrals to other health services
The legislation does not allow nurses to provide referrals to other health services.
WorkSafe will pay for
WorkSafe will pay for the reasonable cost of nursing services that meet all of the following criteria:
- a medical practitioner has provided a request/referral for treatment
- a medical practitioner reviews the service regularly.
WorkSafe will not pay for
- counselling services provided by nurses.