Can my funding pay for: wound care services and products?

In-home nursing services are an essential component of the Support at Home program to ensure that you receive the necessary clinical care when required. If you require wound care from a nurse and you have the required service approvals, your quarterly budget can assist with this, though there are some distinctions between what can and cannot be purchased with these funds.

1. It will depend on the reason for the wound that is being treated:
Where the need for the nursing services and wound dressings is unrelated to ageing related care needs (such as post-surgery), the responsibility for the supply of those services and dressings rests with subacute care, primary care or community care services. This means that your local GP, health service or community nursing service cannot deny you service just because you are in receipt of Support at Home funding.

2. It depends on the product that is recommended for your wound care:
Your quarterly budget can be used for nursing consumables and to help keep your skin clean and intact. This includes providing bandages, dressings, and skin emollients that are recommended by relevant health professionals, such as Alpha Keri Bath Lotion, QV Bath Oil and Hamilton Skin Therapy Oil.
However, prescription medicines cannot be paid for by your funding as they are already subsidised by the government. Creams, body washes or lotions are also excluded.

Additional information:

• If you are receiving post-acute care, transition care or respite care, that service provider is responsible for both your clinical (nursing) care and the provision of dressings, bandages and emollients.
• You may be able to access Commonwealth Home Support Program services for nursing care if your funding is not sufficient to meet your needs or you do not have service approvals for clinical supports in place.

You may have to contribute to the cost of nursing and consumables according to their policy, but your Support at Home funding cannot be used to cover your co-payment in those circumstances.