Health

Subsidised emergency, general and denture services are available for eligible adults.

Waiting lists may apply for subsidised general and denture services. Adults listed as a partner (dependent) on a Services Australia Concession Card may be eligible for services, please contact Oral Health Services Tasmania to confirm eligibility for services.

Eligibility:

• Eligible concession card holder.
• DVA Veteran Card and meet specific criteria (contact DVA on 1800 838 372 to find out more).

Contact:

Department of Health - Oral Health Service
Phone: 1300 011 013
Web: www.health.tas.gov.au

Concession cards:

View more card information.

Free dental checks, preventive care and treatment are available for children aged 0-17 under the Medicare Child Dental Benefits Schedule, with consent. Otherwise, a subsidised service is available to children under 18 years.

Eligibility:

• Be a child under 18 years old.

Contact:

Department of Health - Oral Health Service
Phone: 1300 011 013
Web: www.health.tas.gov.au

Concession cards:

View more card information.

Equipment is available for people who have been clinically assessed as having a sleep-related breathing disorder requiring a positive airways pressure machine. Please consult your medical specialist.

Eligibility:

• Have a prescription from a sleep specialist.
• An eligible concession card.

Contact:

Department of Health - Respiratory Unit
Phone: 1300 135 513
Email (South): rhh.respiratory@ths.tas.gov.au
Website: www.health.tas.gov.au

Concession cards:

View more card information.

Subsidised nutrition is available when a person holds an eligible concession card and is assessed by a dietitian. Other funded or compensated supports may require referral elsewhere.

Eligibility:

• Is assessed by a dietitian.
• Holds an eligible concession card.

Referral to another service for subsidised nutrition is available to people who:

• Are eligible for compensation (MAIB workers compensation or any common law compensation), or where compensation payment has been made that includes future nutritional support.
• Are receiving financial assistance from any other government-funded organisation or program (including DVA Veteran - All Conditions).
• Have a funding package through an aged care provider (if their plan includes nutritional support).
• Live in a residential facility, accommodation service or private hospital whose funding arrangements include nutritional support.
• Hold a NDIS plan that includes nutritional support.
• Are registered with the Closing the Gap program.

Contact:

Department of Health
Phone: South: 6166 8145 / North:  6777 6477 / North-West: 6493 6467
Website: www.health.tas.gov.au

Concession cards:

View more card information.

Oxygen supplies are available to patients assessed by a specialist doctor as needing oxygen therapy. Please consult your medical specialist.

The assessment needs to be approved by the Department of Respiratory Medicine at the Royal Hobart or Launceston General hospitals.

Eligibility:

• Assessed by a specialist doctor.
• Approved by Royal Hobart or Launceston hospitals.

Contact:

Department of Health
Phone: 1300 135 513
Email: (South) rhh.respiratory@ths.tas.gov.au

Concession cards:

View more card information.

Financial assistance is available to eligible people requiring compression garments to help manage lymphoedema.

Eligibility:

• Assessed by a specialist doctor.
• Approved by Royal Hobart or Launceston hospitals.

Contact:

Department of Health
Website: www.health.tas.gov.au

Phone:

• South: 6166 8314 or 6166 8634
• North: 6777 6216
• North-West: 6493 6250

Email:

• South: rhh.physiotheraphy@ths.tas.gov.au
• North: lgh.ahs@ths.tas.gov.au
• North-West: burnie.physio@ths.tas.gov.au

Concession cards:

View more card information.

A reduced contribution charge for orthotic and prosthetic services is provided to eligible people whose costs are not met by other organisations such as MAIB, workers compensation, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs or the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Eligibility:

• Current referral from either a GP, an allied health professional or a medical specialist.
• Hold an eligible concession card.

Contact:

Department of Health - Orthotic Prosthetic Services Tasmania
Phone: South: 6166 7377 / North: 6777 8562 / North-West: 6493 6272
Email: opst.tas@ths.tas.gov.au
Web: www.health.tas.gov.au

Concession cards:

View more card information.

PTAS may cover some of the travel and accommodation costs for Tasmanians who need to travel long distances for specialised care.

Eligibility:

• Are a Tasmanian resident.
• Are receiving an eligible clinical service from an approved clinical provider.
• Need to travel a distance of
  • more than 75 km (one way by the shortest practical route) to the nearest eligible clinic or
  • more than 50 km (one way by the shortest practical route) or 150km over a 4-week period to the nearest appropriate treatment centre for oncology, haematological malignancy or dialysis.
• Are not receiving financial help for travel costs from other organisations such as DVA or MAIB.

For more information on eligibility criteria and available subsidies download the PTAS Patient Guidelines from the Department of Health website.

Contact:

Department of Health
Web: www.health.tas.gov.au

Patient Travel South
Phone: 6166 8225
Email: ptasrhh@ths.tas.gov.au

Patient Travel North
Phone: 6777 6249
Email: lgh.patient.travel@ths.tas.gov.au

Patient Travel North-West
Phone: 6477 7734
Email: nw.ptas@ths.tas.gov.au

Concession cards:

View more card information.

Concessions are available on medications dispensed to patients discharged from hospital, outpatients attending the emergency department, or hospital outpatient clinics in public hospitals.

Medicare Card holders pay a maximum cost of $25* per prescription item. Eligible concession cardholders and PBS Safety Net Concession cards pay a maximum cost of $7.70* per prescription item.

*These amounts are adjusted in line with inflation by the Australian Government on 1 January each year.

Eligibility:

• Eligible concession card holders.
• PBS Safety Net Concessions Card issued by a pharmacy.

Holders of a PBS Safety Net Entitlement Card will not be charged for their medication.

Contact:

Department of Health
Phone: Royal Hobart Hospital: 6166 6700 / Launceston General Hospital: 6777 6728 / North-West Regional Hospital: 6493 6280 / Mersey Community Hospital: 6478 5229
Website: www.health.tas.gov.au

Concession cards:

View more card information.

TasEquip is a Department of Health service that provides a range of equipment to eligible Tasmanians to help them with everyday tasks at home.

The aim is to help people who:

• live independently at home
• transition home after acute care.

The equipment must be prescribed by the authorised therapist/prescriber. Some of the common equipment available for eligible clients includes, but is not limited to, shower chairs, walking aids, adjustable height seats, hoists, wheelchairs, and electric wheelchairs.

Eligibility:

• Live in Tasmania for over 4 months.
• Have a Health Care Card / Pensioner Concession Card.
• Not living in an Aged Care Facility.
• Not eligible if you have access to MAIB, Workers Compensation, NDIS.
• Not eligible for other funding, Support at Home program, DVA - All Conditions card.

DVA cardholders are encouraged to contact DVA on 1800 838 372 to find out more.

Contact:

TasEquip Statewide
Phone: 1300 827 387
Web: www.health.tas.gov.au

South
Phone: 6166 7393
Email: southtasequip@ths.tas.gov.au

North
Phone: 6777 4336
Email: nthtasequip@ths.tas.gov.au 

North-West
Phone:  6478 5599
Email: nwtasequip@ths.tas.gov.au

Concession cards:

View more card information.

Financial assistance is available for the purchase of glasses for pre-school aged children and adults. Low vision aids, prostheses and intraocular implants are subsidised up to $436.05 per item.

Eligibility:

• A permanent Tasmanian resident for at least three continuous months prior to application (refugees not required to satisfy this criteria).
• Able to satisfy the means test.
• An eligible concession card.
• Low income earners under hardship provisions.
• Persons not able to claim from private health insurance, workers compensation or any other source.

This subsidy does not cover school aged children; however, they may be eligible for assistance from the Department for Education, Children and Young People. Refer to Spectacles Assistance for further information.

Note: People who can claim from private health insurance, workers’ compensation or any other source are not eligible to apply.

To apply visit the Department of Health website for an application form. Complete and send with the prescription to the Statewide Spectacles Scheme.

Contact:

Department of Health - Spectacles Assistance Scheme
Phone: 1800 232 148
Email: spectacles@ths.tas.gov.au
Web: www.health.tas.gov.au

Concession cards:

View more card information.

Financial assistance is available to cancer and alopecia patients who are referred by a doctor.

Eligibility:

• Hold an eligible concession card.
• DVA Veterans Card and meet specific criteria (contact DVA on 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372) for more information).

Contact:

Department of Health
Phone: Royal Hobart Hospital: 6166 8308 / Launceston General Hospital: 6777 6477 / Devonport Community Health and Service Centre: 6478 6119
Web: www.health.tas.gov.au

Concession cards:

View more card information.