Hearing Services and Devices Policy

WorkSafe Victoria (WorkSafe) can pay the reasonable costs of hearing services and devices required as a result of a work-related injury or illness.

What is a hearing service?
Hearing services include:

  • a Hearing Needs Assessment, including the submission of the Hearing Assessment and Device Request Form
  • fitting, provision and review of a hearing device from the WorkSafe Approved Hearing Device List
  • repair, adjustment or replacement of hearing devices, and
  • supply of hearing device batteries

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What is a hearing device?
Hearing devices are electronic instruments designed and manufactured to provide amplification for individuals with a hearing loss, which may be a hearing aid, accessory or assistive listening device.

The WorkSafe Approved Hearing Device List is a list that sets out each approved hearing device by manufacturer, including the model name, number and the price WorkSafe will pay for each hearing device.

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Who can provide hearing services and devices?
Hearing services and devices can be provided by WorkSafe approved hearing service providers. Hearing service providers can be either audiologists or audiometrists.
To apply to become an approved provider of WorkSafe, hearing service providers must fill out the WorkSafe Hearing Services Registration Application Form. WorkSafe has entered into contracts with some approved hearing service providers to provide hearing services and devices to workers, known as contracted hearing service providers.

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Who are WorkSafe contracted hearing service providers?
Contracted hearing service providers are located in Melbourne and in some regional areas:

These providers are contracted to WorkSafe to provide hearing services and devices to workers:

  • with a focus on measuring, improving and reporting on the outcomes of workers with a hearing loss, and
  • in accordance with the fees listed in WorkSafe Hearing Services, Fee schedule for contracted providers and the WorkSafe Approved Hearing Device List so that workers do not incur any out of pocket expenses for hearing services and devices.

Contracted providers have additional outcome reporting requirements.

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When can WorkSafe pay for a hearing service or device?
WorkSafe can pay the reasonable costs of hearing services and devices that are:

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When can't WorkSafe pay for a hearing service or device?
WorkSafe cannot pay for hearing services and devices that are:

  • not required as a result of work-related injury or illness,
  • provided by a healthcare professional not approved by WorkSafe, and
  • provided outside Australia without prior written approval from the WorkSafe Agent.

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Is prior approval required?
Prior written approval must be obtained from the WorkSafe Agent for the provision of hearing services and devices.

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What information does the WorkSafe Agent require to consider a request?

In order to consider a request for hearing services or devices the WorkSafe Agent requires the following information:

  1. A valid Worker’s Injury Claim Form
  2. An Employer Injury Report Form which is completed by the employer upon receipt of a Worker’s Injury Claims Form

  3. A Hearing Assessment and Device Request Form

The WorkSafe Hearing Assessment and Device Request Form outlines the information required by the Agent in order to consider a request for the provision of hearing services and devices.

The form should be completed and sent to the WorkSafe Agent by the approved hearing service provider.
If the hearing device required is different to that requested and approved device, the hearing service provider must notify the WorkSafe Agent and where requested, submit a new Hearing Assessment and Device Request Form prior to fitting the device.

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How much will WorkSafe pay for hearing services and devices?
WorkSafe will pay the reasonable costs of hearing services provided by all approved providers in accordance with the:

WorkSafe has a comprehensive list of approved devices that contains over 600 devices from the following distributors:

  • Australia Hears Pty Ltd
  • Bernafon
  • Evertone
  • GN ReSound
  • Oticon
  • Phoenix Hearing Instruments
  • Phonak
  • Siemens
  • Sonic Innovations
  • Starkey
  • Unitron
  • Widex
  • Word of Mouth Technology

 

WorkSafe can pay or reimburse workers for the reasonable costs of approved hearing devices as compensation under the Act. When determining reasonable costs, the type of hearing device approved by WorkSafe and its Agents is generally a mid-range hearing device. The reasonable costs that WorkSafe can pay for a mid-range hearing device range from $400 up to $1,900. What WorkSafe will pay as reasonable costs will vary depending on the make, model and features of the device and the nature of the worker's hearing loss and their circumstances and the hearing service provider's assessment of the worker's needs.

The hearing service provider's selection of a hearing device for a worker is to be made following consideration of the list to establish the most appropriate model with the features required to meet a worker's needs at a reasonable cost.

If a premium hearing device is selected for a worker, which includes any approved hearing device priced at or above $1,900, clinical justification must be provided by the hearing service provider to ensure the additional cost is necessary to meet the individual hearing needs of the worker including their transition back to work.

If a non-contracted provider charges a worker a price above that listed in the Hearing Service, Fee Schedule for non-contracted providers and the WorkSafe Approved Hearing Device List, it is expected that a written agreement is developed with the worker that fully informs them of their expected out-of-pocket costs.

Workers will be advised that they can avoid out-of-pocket costs by going to a contracted service provider and will be provided with access to a list of these providers on the WorkSafe website.

Hearing service providers must obtain written approval from the WorkSafe Agent before proceeding with the provision and fitting of an approved hearing device as a condition of payment of compensation for the reasonable costs of the hearing device by WorkSafe Victoria. The costs of a hearing device which is not on the list will not be paid without prior written approval from the relevant WorkSafe Agent, which approval will be granted only in exceptional circumstances.

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Are there any limitations to the payment of hearing services and devices?
(a) Hearing Device Fitting Package
WorkSafe can only pay for a Hearing Device Fitting Package:

  • when the WorkSafe Agent has provided written approval to the hearing service provider,
  • once every five years (for the same worker), and
  • once, when a hearing service provider determines that a selected hearing device is inappropriate for the worker and makes a subsequent request to the WorkSafe Agent.

A Hearing Device Fitting Package will cover all consultations for the worker within the first 12 months following a Hearing Needs Assessment.
WorkSafe can pay for an additional Hearing Device Fitting Package where a monaural hearing device is initially selected, but is determined that the worker would benefit from a binaural hearing device. The provider is entitled to be paid for a binaural device fitting fee.

(b) Assistive listening device supply
If an assistive listening device is approved for a worker at the same time or within 12 months after the provision of a hearing device, WorkSafe will only pay for:

  • one Management Fee,
  • a Hearing Device Fitting Package, and
  • the price of the assistive listening device as per the WorkSafe Approved Hearing Device List.

If an assistive listening device is approved for a worker 12 months or more after the provision of a hearing device, WorkSafe will pay for:

  • an additional Management Fee,
  • for Assistive Listening Devices, inline with the WorkSafe Approved Hearing Device List.

(c) Hearing Review and/or Hearing Device Maintenance
WorkSafe can pay the hearing service provider the cost of a hearing review and/or device maintenance in accordance with the WorkSafe Hearing services fee schedules:

  • after 12 months following the fitting of a device to the worker, and
  • up to seven hours over the four years following the provision of a hearing device.

Reviews within the first 12 month period are covered under the hearing device fitting package and all hearing devices on the WorkSafe Approved Hearing Device List are covered by a minimum 12 month warranty.

(d) Hearing Device Battery Supply
WorkSafe will not pay for hearing device battery supply within six months after the initial fitting of a hearing device to a worker.

(e) Replacement or loss
Workers should ensure that their hearing devices are at all times:

  • used only by them
  • used as intended and in a responsible manner
  • not wilfully damaged or destroyed
  • properly maintained, and
  • stored responsibly.

WorkSafe will only pay for replacement of a hearing device after a five year period.
Lost devices will not be replaced without a statutory declaration by the worker which outlines the circumstances of the loss. If it has been more than 6 months since the provision of the previous hearing device, the Agent may request a further Hearing Needs Assessment.

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