Osteopath guidelines
These guidelines should be read in conjunction with our General provider guidelines.
Who can provide osteopathy services?
You can provide services if you are registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (e.g. AHPRA) to practice in the osteopathy profession (other than as a student).
What we can pay for
We can pay the reasonable costs of your patient’s osteopathy services, without prior approval, immediately after a transport accident when they are required as a result of a transport accident injury. We can pay for:
- Osteopathy consultations.
- Monitoring and evaluating gym/swim programs.
- The assessment, recommendation and supply of external orthoses.
- Provision of basic equipment. Our approval is required for specialised equipment. Please read our Medical and rehabilitation equipment guidelines and use the Equipment Prescription Form to submit written requests.
We will review our client’s treatment to ensure it’s reasonable, clinically justified, outcome focused and in line with the Clinical Framework. We'll ask you and our client for information during these reviews and may temporarily stop funding treatment if we don’t receive it. When requested, you must complete the Allied health treatment and recovery plan and return it to us.
Reviews help us understand our client’s injuries, treatment needs and goals and how to best support them to get their life back on track. After a review we’ll let you and our client know the decision regarding further treatment.
Other things to note
For accidents that occurred prior to 14 February 2018 a medical excess may apply. Visit the medical excess page to see if it applies to your patient. If the medical excess applies you will need to invoice the client directly.
As part of your patient’s treatment, you can complete Certificates of Capacity to assess and certify your patient’s capacity for work.
If your patient already has an individualised funding package, osteopathy services may be included as part of that.
Gap in treatment
If our client has not received treatment in 6 months they will need to seek approval from us before we will pay for further treatment. Ask our client for a copy of their approval if you haven’t seen them in 6 months.
How much we can pay
We can pay for services in line with our Osteopathy fees.
What we cannot pay for
We cannot pay for services that are included as part of a hospital inpatient bed fee.