Alternative treatment

MSD must check if the client qualifies for Disability Allowance for the costs of their alternative treatment.

If the client qualifies for Disability Allowance for alternative treatment, it must be granted before MSD assess if the client qualifies for Temporary Additional Support. The client may have allowable health and disability costs for Temporary Additional Support when they do not qualify for Disability Allowance because:

• they do not meet the Disability Allowance income limit or
• their disability will last less than 6 months or
• they are certain refugees, protected persons or residence applicants

Allowable costs for Temporary Additional Support can include fees for alternative treatment needed by a client because of their disability.

The disability and need for alternative treatment must be verified by a registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner on the client's Disability Allowance medical certificate. The alternative treatment must be provided or supervised by a health practitioner.

The certificate must also confirm the treatment is beneficial and of therapeutic value and that the costs are:

• additional and
• ongoing and
• directly related to the clients disability

Note as the alternative treatment must be provided or supervised by a health practitioner that practitioner must verify the costs of their services

The following cannot be included as allowable costs:

• alternative treatment that is not provided by or supervised by a registered health practitioner or
• treatment that is not additional or directly related to the client's disability

The client must provide:

• a Disability Allowance medical certificate completed and signed by a registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner and
• proof of fees and the frequency of the alternative treatment (receipts or quotes from the registered health practitioner providing of the alternative treatment) and
• evidence that the alternative treatment is being supervised by or provided by a registered health practitioner (this can be confirmed by the client’s medical or nurse practitioner)

Note it is not appropriate for MSD to approach the health practitioner directly. The client should provide the receipts or quotes.