Referral to a designated health practitioner

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

• establish medical eligibility to Supported Living Payment
• confirm ongoing medical eligibility to Supported Living Payment
• 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, nurse practitioner or psychologist indicates that they are not best placed to provide the medical information and a second opinion is appropriate or
• they are unable or fail to provide existing reports, a medical certificate from their own medical practitioner, nurse practitioner or psychologist , or other information, and MSD holds insufficient information to decide Supported Living Payment eligibility or
• they choose to see a designated health practitioner at their Supported Living Payment medical review

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

• a diagnosis is unclear
• there appears to be inadequate information in the medical certificate, existing reports/assessments or MSD records to decide eligibility
• the medical information provided is unclear 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

If the client is applying for Supported Living Payment and 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.

This could include granting Jobseeker Support - health condition, injury or disability or some form of hardship assistance. MSD still needs to be satisfied that there is sufficient evidence before granting.

When the Supported Living Payment is current, MSD needs to ensure that payment continues in the interim.