Workers who are receiving an award of weekly compensation benefits, may also be entitled to have all reasonable, medical, hospital, ambulance and other related costs for the treatment of their dust disease, that have been provided by a medical practitioner who is registered to practice medicine within Australia, paid by the Dust Diseases Board.

The Dust Diseases Board can not reimburse you for any medical treatment or medicines that you received whilst you are visiting or living in another country.

Medical expenses are described in the Workers' Compensation Act 1987 and can include the following:

• Ambulance services to transport a worker to a doctor or hospital.
• Treatment for your dust diseases at a hospital, nursing home, palliative care or rehabilitation centre (either public or private and with Government accreditation).
• Therapeutic treatments at the direction of your doctor such as exercise, massage, herbal remedies and aromatherapy.
• Wheelchairs and other mobility aids such as walking frames and motorized scooters.
• Therapeutic apparatus such as reclining chairs, beds, pressure relief cushions, commodes and shower chairs.
• Home care including nursing care, cleaning and lawn & garden maintenance.
• Respite care (out of home) or rehabilitation centre admissions at a designated health care facility (either public or private with Government accreditation).
• Pharmaceuticals, domiciliary oxygen and nebulisers as prescribed by your treating doctor for the treatment of a dust disease.
• Reasonable travelling costs to and from treatment of your dust disease.

It is important that you contact the Patient Services Officer between 9am and 5pm on (02) 8223 6600 or 1800 550 027 before you incur any of these expenses.  The Dust Diseases Board must make sure that the medical expenses incurred are related to your dust disease (and not some other illness) before it can make payment for these costs.

In the event of an emergency where a severely ill person requires an ambulance and hospital admission it is not necessary to first contact the Patient Services Officer before making arrangements for care.  If the emergency occurs between the hours of 5pm-9am you should call 000 to arrange an ambulance.

NB:  Please note that the Dust Diseases Board will not make any payments for hospital admissions, medicines, etc.. for illnesses that are not directly related to your dust disease.

The Dust Diseases Board can not assist you with the payment of the following items:

• Payment of the Federal Government Accommodation Bond to enter a nursing home
• Electricity*, gas and phone bills
• Renovations or painting of your house
• The termination or care of your pets
• Pest control
• Items of clothing
• Dental treatments
• Dentures
• Cataract surgery, spectacles and other sight aids
• Hearing Aids

*some electricity companies provide a pensioner and life support rebates to households that have medical equipment onsite that uses electricity.  Please contact your electricity company to ask if you are eligible for any rebates.

The Patient Services Officer, in some circumstances, may approve dental treatments if your Surgeon writes to the Dust Diseases Board stating that some dental work is required prior to surgery required for the treatment of your dust disease.

The Workers' Compensation Act 1987 states the maximum amounts that the Dust Diseases Board can spend on medical and hospital costs for each worker as:

• $50,000 limit for medical expenses
• $50,000 limit for hospital expenses
• $10,000 limit for ambulance expenses
• $1,200 limit for occupational rehabilitation expenses

The Dust Diseases Board may, in exceptional circumstances, approve the payment of medical, hospital or ambulance expenses that are greater than the limits listed above if the additional treatment required is necessary as a result of your dust disease for which you are being treated.

The Dust Diseases Board Patient Services Officer will make arrangements for the hire of equipment and various types of care.  To help the Patient Services Officer process your request you must provide a written recommendation from your health care professional stating what treatment or equipment is required and why they are required to treat your dust disease.

The Patient Services Officer is responsible for verifying that any treatments and equipment that you request are required as a result of your dust disease.  For this reason, it may be necessary at times for the Patient Services Officer to contact your doctor or other health care professional to obtain additional information to support your claim for medical expenses.

The Dust Diseases Board will make payments directly to the company, hospital or doctor that is providing the treatment or equipment.  The Patient Services Officer will send a letter to the company, hospital or doctor stating what treatment and equipment the Dust Diseases Board will pay for and asking that invoices be sent directly to the Dust Diseases Board Accounts Branch.

If you have already paid for your treatment or equipment you may forward your invoice to the Patient Services Officer requesting that you be reimbursed.  To assist the Patient Services Officer in processing your claim as quickly as possible please attach to the invoice a written recommendation from your health care professional confirming that the expenses were incurred as a result of your dust disease.

The Dust Diseases Board will only assist with the provision of minor home modifications to assist with the management and treatment of your dust disease such as:

• hand rails for ease of access to bath and shower facilities
• access ramps to your house if you use a wheelchair or scooter

The Patient Services Officer will arrange for any minor home modifications to take place upon receiving a recommendation from your occupational therapist stating why the modifications are necessary.