Rehabilitation at home services policy

What is rehabilitation at home?

Rehabilitation at home is a service that allows suitable workers, requiring hospital rehabilitation, to undertake part or all of their rehabilitation in their own home.

The service is delivered over a 4-8 week period, depending on individual needs, and is overseen by a Case Coordinator who liaises with the treating team and the Agent.

During this period, rehabilitation services are provided by a multidisciplinary team of allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

Where required, WorkSafe provides other services which may include:

• nursing
• personal care (bathing, dressing, grooming etc)
• nutrition services (please note this service is not available from all providers)

The information an Agent requires to approve rehabilitation at home

In the interest of treatment timeliness, prior approval from the Agent is not required. However, approval is required where:

• services are required beyond 8 weeks, or
• the total cost of the package is over $3000

To obtain approval the provider must supply clinical justification to the Agent as to why the services are required post 8 weeks or a program total over $3,000.

Who can provide services

Providers must be registered with WorkSafe. WorkSafe welcomes contact from prospective providers who meet the required service standards.

Email WorkSafe about becoming a provider: [email protected]

Who can refer for services

Only medical practitioners and hospitals are able to refer injured workers to Rehabilitation at Home service.

What the Agent will not pay for

• services for a condition that existed before the work related injury or illness, or that is not a direct result of the work-related injury or illness
• treatment or services where there is no National Health and Medical Research Council level 1 or 2 evidence that the treatment, or service, is safe and effective.
  Refer to the Non-established, New or Emerging Treatments and Services Policy.

• the provision of multiple or concurrent physical treatments (for example physiotherapy, chiropractic, osteopathy or acupuncture) with exceptions such as group exercise or group hydrotherapy outside of this program
• services that are of no clear benefit to the worker
• non-attendance fees where a worker failed to attend
• the cost of telephone calls and telephone consultations between providers and workers, and between other providers, including hospitals
• treatment and services subcontracted to a non-registered provider
• services provided outside of Australia without prior approval from the Agent
• invoices that do not meet WorkSafe’s Invoicing Requirements

Suspended from providing services to WorkSafe clients

If WorkSafe gives notice to a provider advising them that they are suspended from providing services to WorkSafe clients, WorkSafe will notify their professional body and Medicare Australia of the suspension and the grounds on which the suspension has been issued.