COMMUNITY HEALTH DATES TO REMEMBER ... - Platypus Country

Essential Medical Equipment PaymentThe Australian Government announces Essential Medical Equipment PaymentAs part of its household assistance package, the Australian Government has announced an Essential MedicalEquipment Payment (EMEP) to assist people who have higher than average household energy costs because theyuse essential medical equipment, or medically required heating/cooling to manage their disability or medicalcondition.The EMEP can be applied for in several ways, including online from 18 June, or by contacting the Department ofHuman Services on 13 24 68 to request a paper claim form. The Department recommends people claim online asthose applications will be assessed faster than paper claims.There is also an online booklet containing detailed information about the EMEP.The Essential Medical Equipment Payment is an annual $140 payment to people who experience additional increases in homeenergy costs from the use of essential medical equipment to manage their disability or medical condition. Payments will startfrom 1 July 2012.You may be eligible for this payment if you or the person in your regular care at home: either holds or is included on one of the following cards: Health Care Card Pensioner Concession Card Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Gold or White Card; and provide proof that the specified essential medical equipment or medically required heating/cooling is required as a result ofa specified medical condition. This proof can be provided as: certification from a Medical Practitioner, or evidence that the medically required equipment (excluding medically requiredheating/cooling) currently qualifies for assistance under one of the state or territory government schemes, or the Department ofVeterans’ Affairs Rehabilitation Appliances Program.You may also need to prove that you, or the person you care for, contribute to the payment of the home energy account.The following list of equipment will attract an Essential Medical Equipment Payment. These items (except electric wheelchairs)currently attract subsidies under the various state and territory government life support equipment subsidy schemes. Equipmentnot listed will not attract an Essential Medical Equipment Payment. Home Dialysis Machine Home Ventilator Home Respirator Home Parenteral or Enteral Feeding Device Oxygen Concentrator Heart Pump Suction Pump Infant Apnoea Monitor – prescribed by a Medical Practitioner following apnoeic episodes Nebuliser – used daily Positive Airways Pressure Device Phototherapy Equipment Airbed Vibrator Electric Wheelchair Insulin PumpTo be eligible, the equipment must be powered by a form of energy that will increase under a carbon price. These forms ofenergy are electricity, natural gas, petroleum gas, diesel, heating oil, petrol or kerosene.If you have one or more of the specified medical conditions outlined below and as a result you medically require heating and/orcooling in the home to regulate body temperature, you may be eligible for the Essential Medical Equipment Payment.Spinal cord injury at or above the T7 levelStrokeBrain injuryA neurodegenerative disorderThe Muscular DystrophiesFull thickness burns covering more than 20 per cent of the body surface areaRare disorders of sweating including congenital absence or mal-development of sweat glandsChronic erythrodermas.You will need to apply for the Essential Medical Equipment Payment online through humanservices.gov.au/cleanenergy [1] andselecting the Online Services option. There will be no need to reapply in future years unless your personal circumstanceschange. To receive this payment, you will also need to be in Australia on the date that you apply for the payment and on theanniversary of this date in subsequent years. Dependent children are not able to claim this payment.http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/essential-medical-equipment-payment