Refugee & Asylum Seeker Referral Guidance for GPs

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Jerome Kennedy
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1 SOUTH EASTERN MELBOURNE An Australian Government Initiative Refugee & Asylum Seeker Referral Guidance for GPs 1

2 Quick summary Preferably, GPs refer to the public health system. However if it is necessary case worker. This is especially important for asylum seeker patients. Care options for refugees and asylum seekers Emergency Health Monash Health - Refugee Health and Wellbeing service Unresolved visa patients who do not have Medicare access Contact emergency services as you normally would. Ambulance Victoria: Note that asylum seekers who have no capacity to pay have free access to ambulance services for emergency transport. But it is not always practical for Ambulance Victoria to cite a worker for help if they receive an invoice from Ambulance Victoria or a public hospital. Refugee Triage Nurse: GPs are able to call the Refugee Triage Nurse if they have any questions regarding their Asylum Seeker of Refugee patient. T: Hospital-based services: Refugee Nurse Liaison T: M: State funded health services: Ambulance Public Oral Healthcare and services State funded community health services Patients in the south east Melbourne region can access: Public hospitals Monash Health Refugee Health and Wellbeing Link Health and Community Evidence of visa status Some Asylum Seekers are eligible for an Evidence of Immigration Status ImmiCard. Children born in ImmiCards help card holders access government services that they might be entitled to. They assist the card holder to prove their visa or immigration status, and enrol for services they are entitled to. ImmiCards can still be used after the expiry date. 2

Refugee eligibility Visa name Subclass Permanent Humanitarian Visas Refugee 200 In Country Special Humanitarian 201 Global Special Humanitarian 202 Community Pilot Program 202 Emergency Rescue 203

3 Refugee eligibility Visa name Subclass Permanent Humanitarian Visas Refugee 200 In Country Special Humanitarian 201 Global Special Humanitarian 202 Community Pilot Program 202 Emergency Rescue 203 Women at Risk (supports dependent children) 204 Permanent Protection (onshore) 866 Temporary Humanitarian Visas Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) 449 Temporary Humanitarian Concern 786 Safe Haven Enterprise (valid for 5 years) 790 Family Migration Visas Partner Migrant 100 Orphan Relative 117 Prospective Marriage 300 Partner (Provisional) 309 Dependent Child 455 Commonwealth funded State funded SRSS Medicare access Health Care Concession Card Subsidised PBS medicines Hearing Australia Short term & trauma counselling Free translation & interpretation (TIS) for doctors, specialists & pharmacists MBS mental health & allied health (does not include interpreter) NDIS (excluding the Temporary Humanitarian Visas) Public hospital services Specialist clinics Emergency ambulance services (with Health Care Concession Card) Community health General & specialist dental care Catch-up immunisation Optometry Aids & Equipment Program Family violence services Medium to long term torture & trauma counselling. My Aged Care (HACC) Not eligible 3

Asylum Seeker eligibility Visa name Subclass Bridging Visa A (BVA) 010 Bridging Visa B (BVB) 020 Bridging Visa C (BVC) 030 Bridging Visa D (BVD) 040 & 041 Commonwealth funded Medicare* (Unless

4 Asylum Seeker eligibility Visa name Subclass Bridging Visa A (BVA) 010 Bridging Visa B (BVB) 020 Bridging Visa C (BVC) 030 Bridging Visa D (BVD) 040 & 041 Commonwealth funded Medicare* (Unless application has been denied and no longer eligible for Medicare) Subsidised PBS medicine (via Medicare & SRSS) Short term torture & trauma counselling. MBS mental health & allied health (does not include interpreter) State funded Public hospital services** Specialist clinics Emergency ambulance transport (fee waiver for SRSS band 4-6) Community health General and specialist dental care Catch-up immunisation Optometry Family violence services Medium to long-term torture & trauma counselling SRSS Subsidised PBS medicine (via Medicare & SRSS) Emergency ambulance transport (fee waiver for SRSS band 4-6) Visa name Subclass Bridging Visa E (BVE) 050 & 051 Bridging Visa (removal pending) 070 Commonwealth funded Medicare* (Unless application has been denied and no longer eligible for Medicare) Subsided PBS medicines Short term torture & trauma counselling MBS mental health & allied health (does not include interpreter) State funded Public hospital services** Specialist clinics Emergency ambulance transport (with Health Care Concession Card) Community health General & specialist dental care Catch-up immunisation Optometry Family violence services Medium to long-term torture & trauma counselling SRSS Not eligible * Monash Health Refugee Health and Wellbeing clinic will accept all asylum seeker patients regardless of visa status. ** Monash Health has free interpretation services for all refugees and asylum seekers. 4

Health Care Cards IHMS card Health services for people in detention (including in community detention).

au Medicare Card Medicare covers: free or subsidised treatment by health professionals such circumstances, dentists and other allied health

75% of the Medicare Schedule fee for services and procedures if you are a private patient in a public or private hospital this does not include

Visitor Medicare Card This is an interim card for a person who has temporary residency and is applying for a permanent residency.

5 Health Care Cards IHMS card Health services for people in detention (including in community detention). IHMS / Community Detention Assistance Desk Phone: Fax: (02) CDAD@ihms.com.au Medicare Card Medicare covers: free or subsidised treatment by health professionals such circumstances, dentists and other allied health practitioners. free treatment and accommodation for public Medicare patients in a public hospital. 75% of the Medicare Schedule fee for services and procedures if you are a private patient in a public or private hospital this does not include hospital accommodation and items such as theatre fees and medicines. Visitor Medicare Card This is an interim card for a person who has temporary residency and is applying for a permanent residency. There are no restrictions on these cards, except that they are usually issued for a twelve month period. Health Care Concession Card A Health Care Concession Card entitles patients to cheaper (PBS). Patients may be eligible for other concessions, some of which may also be available for a dependent child. doctor. more refunds for medical expenses through the Medicare Safety Net. Services.

6 The Department of Immigration & Border Protection consolidated the service delivery arrangements for Community Detention (CD), Community Assistance Support (CAS), Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme (ASAS) and Unaccompanied Minors (UAMs) in Alternative Places of Detention (APODs) into the Status Resolution Support Service (SRSS) programme. SRSS providers deliver services to recipients who previously may have needed to move between multiple providers and programmes. SRSS has six bands, which have varying levels of assistance and support to eligible people. The individual circumstances of the recipient will determine the type and level of assistance and support they are provided. SRSS Band 1 unaccompanied minors in alternative places of detention Band 2 & 3 community detention Band 4 transitional support Band 5 community assistance support Band 6 asylum seeker assistance scheme. If a Medicare card has expired, an SRSS provider may be able to provide a letter of supply which states they will cover some medical costs of the service provided while the Department of Immigration See list of providers, sample letter of supply, and table of services below. SRSS Providers AMES Australia: Dandenong Levels 2-5, 280 Thomas Street Dandenong 3175 P: Noble Park 60 Douglas Street Noble Park 3174 P: Springvale Springvale Road Springvale 3171 P: Oakleigh 1A Palmerston Grove Oakleigh 3166 P: Life Without Barriers: Dandenong Level 2, 1-7 Langhorne Street Dandenong 3175 P: Sunshine 137 Harvester Road Sunshine 3020 P: Epping 5/ High Street Epping 3076 P: Australian Red Cross: Dandenong Level 4, 311 Lonsdale Street Dandenong 3175 P:

7 SRSS Sample letter of supply expired. 7

8 SRSS Funded Health Services Table of SRSS Provider approval caps, Categories 1 & 2, Bands 4 to 6 Applicable category Service SRSS Provider Approval Cap Category 2 only General Practitioner $150 per service Category 2 only Specialist (as referred by a GP) including: diagnostic imaging surgical or therapeutic procedures $500 per service* (course of treatment) Category 2 only Pathology $250 per service Category 2 only Hospital visit admission or accident and emergency visit $250 per service Category 1 & 2 PBS Pharmaceuticals $150 per item Category 1 & 2 Optometry $100 per calendar year Category 1 & 2 Notes: purchasing spectacles Dental general check-up and emergency $500 per calendar year** (for children aged 2-17 $1000 every two calendar years) Information is subject to change please check with SRSS provider for further support and information. to SRSS Operations for a decision. Category 1: Have Medicare Access Category 2: No Medicare Access Category 1 only - Bands 4 to 6: SRSS recipients who are eligible for Medicare must access health and medical services provided by the public health system. SRSS recipients in category one are expected services where available. The Department will not provide funding for Medicare funded services or gap payments. * The caps and specialist services for those NOT on Medicare. The rules change often, so check with the SRSS provider. ** SRSS recipients are eligible to $500 per year for emergency dental services via a private dentist, with other dental services accessed via Community Dental Health and/or Dental Hospital. 8

9 Key Providers Monash Health Monash Health Community Level 1, 122 Thomas Street Dandenong VIC Refugee Triage Nurse Monash Health Refugee Health and Wellbeing has a Refugee Health Nurse, who can support general practice in determining where to refer clients and how to make an appropriate referral. P: Refugee Nurse Liaison The Refugee Nurse Liaison at Dandenong Hospital is a service to enhance access, quality of care and coordination for refugee and asylum seekers within the acute sector. While also improving the interface between hospital services, primary care and other providers. P: M: Link Health and Community and Commonwealth Governments. They provide an extensive range of medical, allied health, counselling and dental services, as well as health promotion and service coordination to the City of Monash and surrounding areas. Locations are in Clayton, Batesford, Glen Waverley and Oakleigh. Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Footscray Monday to Friday: 10am 5pm Nicholson Street, Footscray VIC 3011 P: Dandenong Monday to Thursday: 10am 3pm 179 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong VIC 3175 P: Services available from the Dandenong site are limited, so please call or access the website for information before referring clients. Asylum seekers coming to the ASRC will have their needs assessed. If eligible to become a member of the ASRC, a caseworker will be assigned. ASRC also offers specialist services including: general practice clinic nurse clinic psychiatry clinic physiotherapy massage acupuncture 9

10 podiatry diabetes education hearing tests immunisation clinic pharmacy program ASRC Health Centre: or The Royal Children s Hospital Melbourne 50 Flemington Rd Parkville VIC 3052 P: E: refugee.fellow@rch.org.au The Immigrant Health Service provides a multidisciplinary assessment service for recently arrived children of a refugee background. Asylum seeker children and children in community or held detention are also seen by the service. Assessments include: medical and education/developmental assessment oral health assessment immunisations Mantoux testing Administration of Vitamin D Post arrival screening can be provided if needed. The service includes a weekly outpatient clinic on Mondays from 1pm 5pm at desk A5. Referral information for the immigrant service can be found on their website. 10

11 More Information South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network The South Eastern Melbourne PHN has a range of resources for health professionals to access regarding contacts, immunisation, mental health and many others. Victorian Refugee Health Network Information sheets, asylum seeker information sheet for Victorian health care providers and a desktop guide for doctors, nurses and other health care providers. Monash Health Refugee Health and Wellbeing The Monash Health Refugee Health and Wellbeing website has referral information for their paediatrics, infectious disease, primary care and mental health services for refugee or asylum seeker clients Translator and Interpreting Services (TIS) The Translating and Interpreting Service is provided by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection for people who do not speak English and for agencies and businesses that need to communicate with their non-english speaking clients. Community Pilot Program Some members of our community are granted humanitarian visa sub class 202, which is part of the Community Pilot Program (CPP). It is a permanent visa, similar to a refugee visa. The entrants should have access to all services except Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS) 11

12 Acknowledgements This resource was developed by the enliven South Eastern Melbourne Refugee and Asylum Seeker Alliance and member organisations. Particular thanks to: AMES Australia Southern Migrant & Refugee Centre Life Without Barriers Monash Health Refugee Health and Wellbeing Australian Red Cross Contributing organisation details: AMES Australia Levels 2-5, 280 Thomas Street, Dandenong, 3175, VIC P: Life Without Barriers Level 2, 1-7 Langhorne Street, Dandenong, 3175, VIC P: Australian Red Cross Level 4, 311 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong, 3175, VIC P: Southern Migrant & Refugee Centre 39 Clow St, Dandenong, 3175, VIC P: Monash Health Refugee Health and Wellbeing 122 Thomas Street Dandenong, 3175 P: For further information contact the South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network: P:

Guide to asylum seeker access to health and community services in Victoria

Guide to asylum seeker access to health and community services in Victoria Revised May 2011 This guide covers special access arrangements to health and community services in Victoria for asylum seekers.