Scheme guidance - Fee guidance for workplace rehabilitation provider services
To provide scheme guidance to rehabilitation authorities and workplace rehabilitation providers on the appropriate cost and duration for provider services.
Background
- Comcare approves workplace rehabilitation providers (WRPs) to operate in the Comcare scheme (see How to become an approved workplace rehabilitation provider).
- Comcare has developed a Performance Monitoring Framework (PDF, 162.4 KB) for WRPs. The Framework details Comcare’s approval, compliance, performance requirements and approach to ensuring 'services are cost effective'.
- Comcare has issued fee guidance for WRP services to address this service provision principle and provide consistency across the Comcare scheme in defining appropriate costs for WRP services.
- Comcare established the fee guidance through reviewing the scheme’s current practices in managing WRP costs, fee rates established by other Australian workers’ compensation schemes, and public consultation on indicative rates.
Fee guidance
Comcare encourages WRPs and rehabilitation authorities to liaise closely on the type of rehabilitation service required and the appropriate cost for the service.
This guidance indicates Comcare’s position on what are reasonable rates for WRP services. This guidance is not intended to override service level agreements that may exist between employers and WRPs.
Comcare acknowledges that WRP service fees may vary based on several factors, including but not limited to:
- Elements of case complexity (such as the nature of condition(s), presence of co-morbidities, amount of time an employee has been away from work or is expected to be away, nature of pre-injury employment, and the circumstances of the claim).
- WRP qualifications and level of experience.
- Geographical location.
Rates will be indexed annually on 1 July. Due to rounding in the indexation process, the fee rate for multiple hours may vary by a small amount from the rate used for one hour.
| Type of rate | Recommended rate | Description of service |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate | $211.61 (+GST) | |
| Travel rate | $211.61 (+GST) |
WRPs can invoice for travel after the first 30 minutes for each trip. Travel of 30 minutes or less is included in the relevant service fee and not charged separately. Travel must be calculated from the WRPs closest office location (or cost centre) to the site being attended.
For example, if a WRP travels a total of 45 minutes to the employee’s workplace to perform a workplace assessment, they can charge for 15 minutes of travel. If the WRP is reasonably required to travel on a separate date to the employee’s workplace to complete the worksite assessment then they can charge another 15 minutes travel. WRPs are to seek discussion and prior approval from the rehabilitation authority for travel above 30 minutes as part of the rehabilitation program. |
| Workplace rehabilitation provider service type | Expected duration of service and fee using an hourly rate of $211.61 (+GST) | Description of service |
|---|---|---|
Initial needs assessment (including workplace visit) and report (s.36) | 6 to 8 hours ($1,269.67 to $1,692.89 +GST) | The assessment provides information on an employee’s capability to undertake a rehabilitation program and, if appropriate, the type of program they require. The assessment typically includes:
|
Vocational assessment and report | 6 to 8 hours ($1,269.67 to $1,692.89 +GST) | Vocational assessment includes:
The assessment can range from a brief vocational screening through to detailed assessment and vocational counselling. |
Functional assessment and report | 4 to 6 hours ($846.45 to $1,269.67 +GST) | A functional assessment involves objective measures of an employee’s current work capacity against relevant work demands. The assessment can be onsite or a The purpose of the assessment is to identify suitable tasks for the employee. |
Workplace assessment and report | 4 to 6 hours ($846.45 to $1,269.67 +GST) | An onsite assessment to assess the employee’s pre-injury duties, identify suitable tasks and design a rehabilitation program including safe upgrades of tasks and hours. |
Progress report | 30 to 60 minutes ($105.81 to $211.61 +GST) | A progress report provides an update of the employee’s progress against agreed rehabilitation milestones. The report may include:
A progress report can be:
|
Closure report | 30 to 60 minutes ($105.81 to $211.61 +GST) | A closure report provides a full summary of the employee’s rehabilitation from referral to closure or cessation of work rehabilitation provider services. |
More information
For further information or superseded guidance on previous WRP fee rates, contact Comcare’s Scheme Policy and Design team on 1300 366 979 or email SchemePolicyandDesign@comcare.gov.au.
View our information and advice for workplace rehabilitation providers.
This information is for: Government sector, self-insured licensees, and workplace rehabilitation providers
Document number: SRC305
Last updated: 1June 2023
Download this scheme guidance: Scheme guidance – Fee guidance for workplace rehabilitation provider services (PDF, 135.9 KB)
