In 2018 the Federal Government announced its commitment to improving veterans’ access to health services, through a scheme known as the Provisional Access to Medical Treatment (PAMT).

The PAMT allows eligible veterans who have lodged claims which are currently being investigated by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), to receive medical and allied health treatment on a provisional basis for 20 different conditions. This list of 20 conditions includes the most commonly accepted conditions for ex-serving members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). This program is open to former ADF members, part-time reservists, cadets and declared members.

Here are the 20 conditions on the list:

• achilles tendinopathy and bursitis
• chondromalacia patella
• cut, stab, abrasion and laceration
• dislocation
• fracture
• internal derangement of the knee
• intervertebral disc prolapse
• joint instability
• labral tear
• lumbar spondylosis
• non-melanotic malignant neoplasm of the skin
• osteoarthritis
• plantar fasciitis
• rotator cuff syndrome
• sensorineural hearing loss
• shin splints
• solar keratosis
• sprain and strain
• thoracic spondylosis
• tinnitus

*You are not eligible if you have submitted a claim under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act (VEA).

This scheme allows veterans to have access to medical treatment for their claimed injuries while they wait for a formal determination from the DVA, which we know is currently taking anywhere from 12-18 months.

The PAMT is important because early access to treatment can make a significant difference in recovery and may prevent conditions from getting worse.

What happens if my claim is accepted?

If your claim is accepted by the DVA by formal determination, then you will have access to entitlements pursuant to that determination, whether under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act (DRCA) or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (MRCA).

In other words, your access to medical treatment for the claimed condition will not be disrupted and you will be entitled to continue the recommended treatment.

What happens if my claim is rejected?

In the event your claim is rejected, your entitlement to the provision for medical treatment will cease immediately from the date of that decision.

Should you decide to appeal the rejected decision, however, the entitlements will continue throughout that appeal period. Equally, where an appeal is successful, these entitlements will continue as they did previously.

Where these entitlements cease, the DVA will not seek a recovery from you relating to that treatment.

How long do I have to access the PAMT?

Importantly there is only a limited amount of time before access to this scheme will close off on 30 June 2024.This is the last date for veterans to lodge their claim with the DVA for the listed conditions. If you lodge your claim prior to 30 June 2024, you will be able to access the relevant treatment under the PAMT until 31 December 2024.

If you do not lodge your claims prior to 30 June 2024, you will not have any entitlement to coverage of treatment under the PAMT, or while you wait for the determination from the DVA.

At this stage there is no indication that the Australian Government is prepared to extend the PAMT scheme, as they did in July 2022. So, if you are considering applying for access to these entitlements, you should consider speaking with a lawyer and act now!

Get in touch

If you have a potential military compensation claim, get in touch with us quickly if you want to lodge before 30 June 2024, and remain eligible for the PAMT! You can contact the author at bmartin@tgb.com.au or call 1800 730 842. We can also assist with any other aspect of DVA claims or military compensation for Defence Force members and veterans.