What changed with DVA prior financial approval
DVA prior financial approval is no longer needed for a range of DVA-funded health services. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) has removed the requirement for providers to seek approval before delivering these treatments, and providers can now claim for them through their usual claiming channels.
The change also adds new items to the Medical Services Fee Schedule, including CT colonography (VC13), fiducial markers used in prostate cancer treatment (VC14), contrast for pharmacological stress echocardiography (VC15), and transient elastography – liver FibroScan (VC16). There are new facility fees for racemic ketamine induction and maintenance cycles for treatment-resistant depression (VC60, VC61), anaesthetist fees for racemic ketamine administration (VC63, VC64), semen and oocyte storage fees for 12-month and 6-month periods (VC70, VC71), embryo storage fees for 12-month and 6-month periods (VC72, VC73), and stem cell storage for 12 months (VC74).
The Neuropsychology Schedule of Fees has also gained new items for assessments lasting longer than an hour, in bands of up to two hours (CL31), two to four hours (CL32), four to six hours (CL33) and six to eight hours (CL34).
These additions build on the 23 services that were added to the fee schedules from 1 January 2026.
Who is affected
DVA-funded health providers delivering the listed treatments, and the eligible Veteran Card holders who receive them.
When it starts
The new fee schedule items, and the removal of DVA prior financial approval for these services, took effect on 1 November 2026.
What it means in practice
Providers no longer have to put treatment on hold while they wait for DVA to sign off on funding. DVA says the aim is to cut red tape, make claiming simpler and help veterans get the care they need sooner. Services not on the list may still need DVA prior financial approval, so check the relevant fee schedule before treating.
Read more: Extra payments now back doctors treating veterans’ mental health
General information only, not legal advice. Check the official source before acting.
Source: Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
