Information for GPs re BSWAT payments
GPs of patients with an intellectual impairment who were supported employees of Australian Disability Enterprises (ADE) between 2004 and 2014 are advised their patients may be eligible to make a claim under the Government’s Business Services Wage Assessment Tool (BSWAT) Payment Scheme for incorrectly assessed wages and they may be asked to verify the medical information of those patients.
The AMA has been advised that around 10,000 people with intellectual impairment may be eligible for a one-off payment under the Government’s Business Services Wage Assessment Tool (BSWAT) Payment Scheme.
Eligible people will have until 30 April 2017 to register their claim. To help ensure that those eligible know about the payment the Department of Social Security (DSS) is appealing to GPs during their next consultation with an intellectually impaired patient to check if they were a supported employee at an ADE between 2004 and 2014, and if so, encourage them to apply. Details about eligibility and how to apply are available at www.dss.gov.au/bswat and in an information sheet for medical practitioners.
While the DSS is expecting they will be able verify the medical information for most applicants, some may need to provide certification from a medical practitioner. Information regarding billing can be found here.
