Funding schemes for continence products
For some people, it is necessary to use continence products such as pads, pants, catheters, urine drainage bags or bedding protection products to manage their condition. For some people, the continence products may be needed long term. Consequently, the cost of these products becomes very expensive, putting unreasonable pressure on the household budget.
A continence clinic or the National Continence Helpline can provide you with contact details for suppliers of continence products. They can also provide you with information about your eligibility for funding schemes, which may assist with the ongoing costs of purchasing and replacing continence products.
Note: An assessment by a continence nurse advisor is recommended to ensure that you or the person you are caring for uses the most appropriate continence product, including the correct fit and application of the product.
There are various funding schemes available for continence products funded by the Australian Government. These schemes have differing eligibility criteria and funding allocations, and it is important to note is that you may be eligible to apply for government funding through several schemes. Australian Government funding schemes are open to all Australian citizens who meet the eligibility criteria, regardless of which state of Australia they live in.
Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS)
The Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) is available to people aged five years and over, with permanent and severe incontinence due to:
- neurological conditions such as paraplegia, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida , dementia or permanent and severe intellectual impairment
- other causes such as radiation therapy, certain cancers, prostate disease or prolapse and have a valid Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card (if they are under 16 years of age, their parent/guardian holds a Pensioner Concession Card).
To apply you will need to complete a CAPS application form, which includes a Health Report from your medical practitioner or continence nurse about your condition.
Eligible CAPS clients receive a payment of $521.00 for the 2012-13 financial year (indexed annually) for continence products.
You are NOT eligible for CAPS if:
- your incontinence is not permanent or can be treated with an existing conservative treatment regime, medication or surgery
- you are a high care resident in an Australian Government funded aged care home
- you are eligible for assistance with continence aids under the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP), or
- you receive an Australian Government funded Extended Aged Care Home Package (EACH Package) or an Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia Package (EACH D Package).
Contact Medicare Australia on 132 011 (select general enquiries option) to obtain a CAPS application form. Further information on CAPS and eligibility criteria is also available from the Australian Government Bladder and Bowel website
Department of Veterans’ Affairs – Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP)Department of Veterans’ Affairs
The Commonwealth Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) provides a range of incontinence products to eligible veterans and war widows via the Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP). If you are an entitled veteran or war widow, you can access support if you:
- hold a Gold Card (eligible for treatment of all conditions whether or not they are related to war service)
- hold a White Card and the incontinence is a result of a specific accepted disability
- have been assessed by a health professional as requiring products for incontinence, or
- require products as part of your overall health care management.
Gold and White Card holders are not eligible if they are residents receiving high level aged care.
A form requesting the incontinence products is filled out by the assessing doctor or health professional. It is then sent to an authorised product supplier on behalf of the client.
For all enquiries relating to the Rehabilitation Appliances Program please call the National Continence Contract Team at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs on 1300 131 945.
Other funding schemes
There is also a range of state/territory government funding schemes available. For more information please contact the National Continence Helpline 1800 33 00 66. If you have any English language difficulties you can contact the Helpline by using the telephone interpreter service. Call 13 14 50. At first, a person will answer the call in English, name the language you speak and wait on the phone. You will be connected to an interpreter who speaks your language, then tell them you want to call the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66. Wait on the phone to be connected and the interpreter will assist you to speak with a continence nurse advisor. Telephone interpreter services are provided free of charge to you.
排便节制产品资助计划
对于有些人来说，使用诸如护垫、短裤、导尿管、尿袋或寝具保护产品等排便节制产品来控制他们的身体状况很有必要。对于有些人来说，他们可能长期需要排便节制产品，因此，这些成本非常昂贵的产品会给家庭预算增加很大的压力。
理遗诊所或国家排便节制热线（National Continence Helpline）可以为你提供排便节制产品供应商的联系方式。他们也可以为你提供获取资助计划资格的信息，以资助你不断购买及更换排便节制产品。
注： 我们建议你接受一项由便节制护理顾问对你进行的评估以确保你或者你照护的人使用的是最合适的排便节制产品，包括产品的正确安装和使用。
由澳洲政府资助的排便节制产品资助计划多种多样。这些计划有着不同的资格标准和资金分配，需要注意的是，你可能有资格通过多个资助计划申请政府资金。澳洲政府的资助计划向所有符合资格标准的澳洲公民开放，无论他们居住在澳洲的哪个州。
排便节制辅助用具补助计划（CAPS）
五岁或者五岁以上由于以下原因导致的永久性严重尿失禁的人可以享受排便节制辅助用具补助计划（CAPS）：
- 神经疾病，例如：截瘫、脑瘫、多发性硬化症、脊柱分裂、痴呆或永久性严重的智力障碍；
- 其他原因，例如：放射治疗、特定癌症、前列腺疾病或器官下垂且申请人拥有有效的Centrelink福利金领取者优惠卡（如果他们不满16周岁，他们的家长/监护人持有该优惠卡）。
要申请该计划，你需要填写一份CAPS申请表，其中包括一份由你的医生或护士出具的关于你身体状况的健康报告。
符合条件的CAPS客户在2012-2013财政年度会收到521澳币（每年都会调整）。
如果你属于以下情况，那么你没有资格申请CAPS：
- 你的失禁症状不是永久性的或者可以通过目前的保守治疗、药物治疗或手术治愈；
- 你是澳洲政府资助的养老院中需要高度护理的居民；
- 根据Department of Veterans’ Affairs Rehabilitation Appliances Program（RAP）你有资格获取排便节制辅助用具补助；或者
- 你参加了由澳洲政府资助的长期养老院计划（Extended Aged Care Home Package ，简称EACH 计划）或者痴呆者长期居家养老服务计划（Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia Package，简称EACH D 计划）。
请致电Medicare Australia获得CAPS申请表，电话：132 011 （选择一般查询（general enquiries）选项）。欲获得更多关于CAPS和资格标准的信息请登录澳洲政府膀胱及肠道网站，网址：
http://www.bladderbowel.gov.au/furtherinfo/caps/default.htm
Department of Veterans’ Affairs ——康复用品计划 （RAP）
联邦政府Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) 通过康复产品计划（RAP）为符合资格的退伍军人和战争遗孀提供一系列的排便节制产品。如果你是一名符合资格的退伍军人或者战争遗孀，而且你符合以下条件，那么你可以获取资助：
- 持有金卡（有资格接受所有健康治疗，无论是否是在战时服役造成的）；
- 持有白卡，排便节制的情况已被确认是由某种公认的残疾造成的；
- 医生评估后确定你需要排便节制产品；或者
- 排便节制产品是你整体健康管理的一部分。
金卡和白卡持有者如果是接受高级老年护理的居民，那么他们没有资格参加该项计划。
申请排便节制产品的表格是由评估医生或者健康专业人士填写的。该表格随后会由他们代表客户发给已被授权的产品供应商。
所有关于康复用品计划的查询请致电Department of Veterans’ Affairs下属的国家排便节制合同小组（National Continence Contract Team），电话：1300 131 945。
其他资助计划
我们还有一系列的国家/地区政府资助计划。欲获得更多信息，请致电国家排便节制热线（National Continence Helpline），电话：1800 33 00 66。如果你在英语方面有困难，你可以通过电话传译服务联系排便节制热线，电话：13 14 50。首先，有人会用英语接听你的电话，请说明你要说的语言种类并且不要挂机。你会被接通至一名说你的语言的传译员，然后请告知他们你想致电国家排便节制热线，电话是1800 33 00 66。待电话接通后传译员会帮助你与排便节制护理顾问对话，电话传译服务是免费的。