Referral to a designated health practitioner

MSD can require a client to be referred to a designated health practitioner to:

• establish medical eligibility
• confirm ongoing medical eligibility
• decide what work obligations to apply

MSD will meet the cost of the appointment with a designated health practitioner.

A case manager can refer a client directly to a designated health practitioner when their registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner (or dentist or midwife where relevant) indicates they are not best placed to provide the medical information and a second opinion is appropriate.

Note the practitioner may indicate that someone else is best placed to provide the information such as a medical specialist or a hospital doctor. If the certificate indicates 'other', the case manager should seek advice from the Regional Health Advisor or Regional Disability Advisor. [no link find out why]

In all other situations a case manager must seek advice from the Regional Health Advisor or Regional Disability Advisor before deciding whether the client must be assessed by a designated health practitioner. These situations include:

• diagnosis is unclear
• the medical information provided is ambiguous or conflicting
• a previous MSD medical certificate contains a substantially different diagnosis or recommendation
• the medical certificate appears to be influenced by labour market considerations
• the client is engaged in activities that appear to be at odds with recorded incapacities

When a client is applying for Jobseeker Support (health condition, injury or disability) and a referral to a designated health practitioner means there is likely to be a delay in deciding their eligibility, MSD may need to consider another form of financial assistance in the interim such as hardship assistance.

Note if eligibility can be determined from the medical certificate, MSD can continue with processing the application. This means the client can continue to be paid before MSD determines if they should be subject to work obligations.