Hearing Services Program (HSP) providers have been reminded to complete the Self- assessment Tool (SAT) by this Saturday, 30 November 2024 as a requirement under their contract.
The Department of Health and Aged Care said the SAT was a key component of the HSP risk-based approach to compliance monitoring.
“The SAT gives contracted service providers an opportunity to review their systems and processes to support compliance with the program requirements,” it said.
The department sent all HSP providers an email on 14 October 2024 advising them that the 2024 SAT was available to complete and must be completed by midnight on 30 November 2024 (AEDT).
Completion of the SAT is a requirement under clause 16.8 of the contract.
“Once completed, you should receive an email confirming receipt of your SAT,” the department said. “This email should contain a link to a copy of your responses. Please download and keep this copy for your records.
“If you do not receive a confirmation email, please check your ‘junk’ or ‘spam’ folder. “Otherwise, please contact us to confirm that your SAT has been received.”
Questions about the SAT can be emailed to hearing@health.gov.au
Veterans cards and voucher update
The Department also notified HSP providers about changes made by the HSP amendment instrument 2024.
It requested providers to note amendments and update any published or printed materials to reflect the recently renamed Veteran Gold Card and Veteran White Card as applicable.
It said that on 14 October 2024, the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), established by the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024 (ART Act), replaced the former Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).
“The Hearing Services Program (Voucher) Instrument 2019 (Voucher Instrument) has been updated to reflect this change (subsections 13(1), 13(5), 19(1), 43(2)),” the department stated.
“Other minor amendments made through the Hearing Services Program (Voucher) Amendment (Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Matters) Instrument 2024, registered on the Federal Register of Legislation include:
- Replacing ‘dependents’ with ‘Spouses or de facto partners’ to clarify the meaning of eligible dependents. (section 7)
- Removing reference to the Disability Services Act 1993 (WA), which no longer has any operational effect. (Section 8)
- Updating terminology to reflect the changed names of the Veteran Gold Card and Veteran White Card. (subsections 9(a) and 9(b))
- Removing reference to the Disability Services Act 1986, which is no longer in force. The associated impacts to program eligibility were accommodated by an earlier amendment to the Hearing Services Administration Act 1997. (section 10)
- Clarifying provider obligations to give the same information to potential voucher‑holders, whether a person enquires about services or devices in person or online. This is consistent with the Schedule of Service Items and Fees 2024-2025. (subsection 25(1))
- Updating website locations of program materials available online. (section 28, subsection 50(1)(note))
