Veterans often have complex healthcare needs, and according to some veterans’ groups, they are struggling to get them met in Canberra. Photo: ANAO.
ACT veterans’ groups have described the territory as a “GP desert” as concerns are raised about the number of practices accepting veteran health care cards.
The concerns come as a new survey by the Capital Health Network ACT has suggested that many veterans struggle to access appropriate health care with their white and gold cards.
White and gold cards cover a proportion of Veterans’ medical bills for problems that have arisen from service.
The CHN survey found 36 per cent of respondents expressed concern about future medical care, while half found access to health care difficult.
ACT Total Permanent Incapacitated Association President Pat McCabe said veterans in Canberra often struggle to find GPs.
“There are four areas in Australia that are GP deserts: one is northwestern Australia, the other is the Northern Territory, the other one is western Queensland, and the capital of the country. I believe that’s a disgrace,” she said.
“I’ve been complaining to the DVA for three years, and it’s just getting worse and worse.”
Ms McCabe referenced research by the Grattan Institute that studied areas with poor access to GPs. It highlighted North Canberra and Molonglo as two unexpected areas with shortages.
These “deserts” can be especially impactful for veterans who often suffer from complex medical needs and rely on their DVA cards to subsidise the cost of care.
ACT RSL media officer and former president John King said veterans have been trying to improve the system for decades.
“[The problem’s] been around for a while, and it’s progressively getting worse. It’s probably now the worst time it’s ever been.”
A key problem, Mr King said, was the complexity of the system and the speed at which payments are made to GPs.
Unlike Medicare or private health care, reimbursement for medical costs is not immediate for veteran benefits, often leaving the veteran or their GP out of pocket for extended periods.
The Health Care Consumers’ Association – the peak advocacy organisation for health consumers in the ACT – has conducted research into the declining use of gold and white cards.
The association identified four key reasons for potential drops in usage: financial strain, complexity of paperwork, complex payment systems, and a lack of awareness and understanding of DVA systems.
Mr King agreed that complexity and lack of understanding were key problems to overcome. According to him, many veterans, himself included, had long harboured reluctance to approach the DVA. He’s hoping to change that attitude.
He said he hoped incoming changes to simplify the system and roll out better education campaigns could address some of these issues.
“The DVA of today is not the DVA of yesterday. They can be trusted, and they’re there to help, and they will help, but you gotta take that first step,” he said.
Tuggeranong RSL President, retired Lt Commander Art Heather, has extensive firsthand experience with the healthcare system.
He is in remission from stage four cancer, but unlike some, he hasn’t had any problems with accessing care, although he had heard of those who have.
“When I developed all the cancers and the heart attacks, well, I’ve been very well treated … The DVA staff are superb, and they work pretty hard, as you can imagine.
“I have heard of a few old Vietnam vets. One of them recently needed a shoulder reconstruction and I think he said one of his doctors wouldn’t do it for DVA so he had to find another one.”
Although Mr Heather had nothing but praise for DVA, he said that the complexity of the system meant he had had to do a lot of research to get appropriate care. And delays in payouts by DVA did impact treatment.
He said that reducing complexity and speeding up payments to doctors would improve things for veterans.
“I know they cut down on an amount of [DVA] staff, so that’s what’s taking so long for claims to be processed. And the other thing is the payment system, I’d like to see the GPs, the specialists get equal amounts that they would get from Joe Bloggs, that goes along with healthcare,” he said.
There are signs of improvement, according to Ms McCabe. After years of trying to get political attention, she said some politicians were becoming more receptive.
Likewise, she highlighted an ongoing federal consolidation of veterans legislation as a big step in the right direction.
But while access may be slowly improving, Ms McCabe said she still felt resentment at having to fight to get what they need.
“My message would be to follow through with your obligations for compensation for the veterans. They need to acknowledge and accept that they are responsible,” she said.
“They sent people into harm’s way, and now they’re refusing to pay the medical bills that resulted from that. It’s just not good enough.”
