In Practice: DVA changes to prior financial approvals

This week’s In Practice also includes a warning about a fake rabies vaccine reported in India and a reminder about the DVA’s fee schedule.
 
Prior financial approval no longer required for some DVA-funded health services
The DVA has announced changes to how some healthcare services are claimed, with the aim of supporting more timely access to treatment for veterans and reducing administrative burdens for providers.
 
As of 1 January 2026, certain health services no longer need prior financial approval from the DVA before the treatment can be delivered to an eligible Veteran Card holder.
 
These services will be added to the relevant DVA fee schedule and can be claimed by registered providers through existing claiming channels. 
 
A complete list of new items is available online.
 
Fake rabies vaccine reported in India
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) is warning health professionals of a counterfeit rabies vaccine, Abhayrab, reported in India.
 
The fake batch has been circulating in India since 2023, with the counterfeit vaccine differing from the registered vaccine in formulation, packaging, labelling, and manufacturing.
 
ATAGI says people who received the fake vaccine may not be fully protected against rabies and are advised to get replacement doses to ensure they are adequately protected.
 
It says while the probability an Australian traveller to India will be adversely affected is low, ‘a precautionary approach is being taken due to the potentially high severity of impact’.
 
Travellers to India may be affected if they received a rabies vaccine in India from 1 November 2023 onwards, and were administered one or more doses of Abhayrab, batch number KA24014 or where the batch number is unknown, or if the vaccine brand administered is unknown.
 
DVA issues fee schedule reminder
To help providers stay up to date, the DVA confirms that the fee schedules published on its website are the authoritative source for current applicable provider fees. 
  
It says GPs who come across fee information from other sources should refer to these versions to ensure they are using the authorised fees.
 
Using the fee schedules listed on the DVA website as a primary reference helps support consistency and clarity of fee information, the DVA says.
 
$300 FPS CPD subsidy 
The General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) is offering GPs a limited number of $300 Focussed Psychological Strategies (FPS) CPD subsidies to go toward completing FPS CPD and maintaining their FPS registration. 
 
GPs are required to complete six hours of FPS CPD each triennium to maintain their registration. FPS CPD must educate GPs on the FPS interventions approved under the Better Access Initiative, and/or the mental disorders treatable under the Better Access Initiative. 
 
Eligible GPs will be reimbursed $300 once they complete an accredited FPS CPD activity. 
 
For more information, email mentalhealth@racgp.org.au.
 
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ATAGI Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration GPMHSC rabies