POLICE — MEDICALLY RETIRED OFFICERS —
REDRESS SCHEME
1076. Hon PETER COLLIER to
the minister representing the Minister for Police:
I refer the minister to his
response to question without notice 1035, asked on Tuesday, 30 November 2021.
(1) What services
are provided to officers via the post-service medical benefits scheme referred
to in answer to question (1)?
(2) Is there a limit
to the time or cost of services provided for in (1)?
(3) If yes to
(2), what are these limits?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me
by the Minister for Police. The Western Australia Police Force provides the
following advice.
(1) The services
that can be claimed are on a list of about 25 services, so I might seek leave
to have that list incorporated into Hansard.
[Leave
granted for the following material to be incorporated.]
Anaesthetists
Consultant
Psychiatrists
Dermatologists
Diagnostic
Imaging
General
Practitioner
Medical
Procedures
Physicians
Surgeons
Allied
Health Provider Fees:
Acupuncture
Chiropractors
Clinical
Psychologists
Counselling
Psychologists
Exercise
Based Physiologists/Programs
Occupational
Therapists
Osteopaths
Physiotherapy
Speech
Pathologists
Also, public hospital fees and
travel to and from medical appointments can be claimed.
(2)–(3) There
is a limit to the maximum claimable amount per claim, with reimbursements in
line with the Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981.
Maximum claim amounts are as follows: $71 754,
indexed annually; up to a further $50 000, subject to agreement or by applying
to WorkCover; and up to a further $250 000 by applying to WorkCover and
agreement by the Commissioner of Police. With respect to the time limit, former
officers with accepted claims are entitled to the prescribed amount—currently
$71 754. In addition, once this amount is exceeded, they may apply for an
increase of an amount up to $50 000. This is
provided for in schedule 1, clauses 18A(1), 18A(1a) and 18A(1CA) of the WCIM
act. Once this amount of $50 000 is exhausted, a further amount of up to
$250 000 may be applied for. This is provided for in schedule 1, clauses
18A(1b), (1d) and (2aa) of the WCIM act. Under regulation 9A(1) of the Police (Medical and Other Expenses for
Former Officers) Regulations 2009, the entitlement is subject to a time
limit of five years from the date of the claim.