Many people with incontinence find it is necessary to use continence products such as pads, pants, uridomes, catheters, urine drainage bags or bedding protection to manage their condition. For some people, the continence products may be needed long term. Consequently, the cost of these products becomes very expensive, putting unreasonable pressure on the household budget.

The National Continence Helpline (freecallTM) 1800 33 00 66 or your local continence clinic can provide you with contact details for suppliers of continence products. They can also provide you with information about your eligibility for subsidy schemes, which may assist you with the ongoing cost of purchasing and replacing continence products.

Note: An assessment by a continence nurse advisor is recommended to ensure that you or the person you are caring for uses the most appropriate continence product, including the correct fit and application of the product.

There are various subsidy schemes for continence products funded by the Australian Government and State/Territory Government Departments. These schemes have differing eligibility criteria and funding allocations, and it is important to note that you may be able to apply for government funding through several schemes if you are eligible.

Assistance for people who have permanent and severe incontinence within Australia.

What is CAPS?

Managing incontinence, especially when relying on incontinence products, can become a monetary burden on sufferers. The Australian Government is providing financial assistance for eligible people suffering from incontinence. Replacing the Continence Aids Assistance Scheme (CAAS), the Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) is an Australian Government program which provides payments to help consumers meet some of the costs of their continence products. Payments are made up to $497.79 per financial year. Each applicant can choose between one full payment in July or two yearly payments in July and January.

Who is eligible?

To qualify for CAPS, the person must:

• Be five years of age or older and have permanent and severe incontinence due to an eligible neurological condition.
• Or have permanent and severe incontinence caused by another eligible condition given they have a valid Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card and a health professional verifies the condition.

If you are an existing CAAS client, you will automatically qualify for CAPS.

How to receive a payment?

From 1 July 2010 applicants can fill out a CAPS application form. A health professional is to complete the health report component and all documents must be returned to Medicare. Medicare will assess the application and make the payment into the nominated bank account within two weeks of processing.
If the application is incomplete or includes invalid information, Medicare will contact the client in order to finalise the application.

Why the change?

This scheme replaces the existing CAAS. It is believed the new streamlined CAPS system will increase consumer choice and control by allowing consumers to choose their choice of supplier and to shop around for their most suitable product. The most significant change is that sufferers will receive up to $497.79 to purchase their own aids, instead of receiving $497.79 worth of products. All existing clients of CAAS will have the opportunity to transfer to the new scheme without the need to reapply.

What products can be purchased under CAPS?

Depend and Poise products can be purchased under CAPS. The newly re-designed incontinence aids from Depend ensure protection, while providing comfort and looking like real underwear. The fabric-like material is designed to breathe so your skin remains comfortable but still prevents leakage. For the full range of Depend products see our incontinence aids page. Depend incontinence products are sold at a wide range of retailers including Coles and Woolworths as well as pharmacies. Free Depend product samples are available to residents of Australia and New Zealand. Two samples are permitted each household. Request the sample from our free sample page.

More Continence Aids Payment Scheme information

You can apply for CAPS through the Bladder and Bowel website: www.bladderbowel.gov.au

Other continence information is available at the Continence Foundation of Australia website or the National Continence Helpline (1800 330 066).

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) provides a range of continence products to eligible members of the veteran community via the Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP). If the applicant is an entitled veteran or war widow(er), support can be accessed if they

• hold a Gold Card (eligible for treatment of all conditions whether or not they are related to war services);
• hold a White Card and the incontinence is a result of a specific accepted disability (to determine eligibility contact the Rehabilitation Appliances Program at DVA);
• have been assessed by a health professional as requiring products for incontinence; or
• products are provided as part of the overall health care management.

Gold and White Card holders are not eligible if they are residents receiving high level aged care. A form requesting the continence products needs to be filled out by the assessing doctor or health professional. It is then sent to an authorised product supplier on behalf of the client.

For all enquires in regards to continence products and supply arrangements please contact the South Australian State Office:

Website: www.dva.gov.au/health/rap/rap_index.htm

The provision of continence aids through schemes administered by State or Territory governments varies widely. Both the type of product and the amount available may differ depending upon which state the person lives.

State/Territory schemes provide a range of equipment to people living in the community who have a permanent or long-term disability. The actual name of the scheme may differ from State to State and some State-based schemes may provide disposable products such as pads, while others may not. There may also be a waiting list to access a scheme. However, all clients require clinical assessment by a health professional.

To find out what financial assistance may be available, contact the National Continence Helpline (freecall™) 1800 33 00 66 or the agency administering the scheme in your State or Territory:

Program of Appliances for Disabled People (PADP) covers disposable and re-usable continence aids for people living in the community who:

• have a permanent or indefinite disability;
• have a Health Care Card, Health Care Interim Voucher or Pensioner Concession Card;
• are ineligible for assistance from other programs;
• have not received compensation for their injuries or disability, including not being on a Commonwealth Rehabilitation Program or being supplied with aids and appliances under the Motor Accidents Act; and
• are State Wards or children in foster care who have a disability.

Continence aids are available to people discharged from hospital or acute care. The person must be discharged for at least one month and not be under outpatient treatment. Subsidy is decided by product quota rather than by financial amount. No client co-payment is required. Assessment is required at least annually by a medical practitioner to obtain a prescription for appropriate aids and apply to a regional Lodgement Centre in the client’s Area Health Service.

Aids & Equipment Program (A&EP) covers a wide variety of continence aids, excluding disposable continence pants and pads, drip collectors, colostomy appliances and urinals, for those who are:

• permanent resident of Victoria;
• permanent protection visa - Resolution of Status (RoS) (subclass 851)
• asylum seekers (may also be Protection Visa applicants)
• permanent or long-term disabled and/or frail aged;
• requiring aids and equipment from the ‘aids available’ list on a permanent or long-term basis
• not eligible for funding from other government-funded aids and equipment programs, or any compensation relating to their disability (including Supported Equipment Assistance Scheme, DVA Gold Card, government-funded residential care, Commonwealth funded Extended Ages Care Package and Extended Aged Care Dementia Packages; Transport Accident Commission, Victorian Workcover Authority);
• unable to claim the aid/equipment through a private health insurance policy;
• not a hospital inpatient; and
• not discharged within past 30 days from a public hospital or extended care aged care centre where the provision of products is related to the hospital admission.
• maximum subsidy is $1200 p.a.

Continence Support Service (CSS) covers disposable continence aids, continence assessments and prescribed interventions for those aged 5-15 years who have a disability. The amount is indexed annually.

Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme (MASS) covers approved aids, including for continence management, primarily for use in the home, rather than for community access (work or school). Aids are subsidised and supplied either on a permanent loan basis or through the purchase of disposable products. It covers those people who are:

• aged over five years with a disability living permanently in Queensland;
• hold a Pensioner Concession Card (issued either by Centrelink or DVA), Health Care Card, Health Care Interim Voucher, or Queensland Seniors Card;
• not in receipt of assistance from other government programs such as WorkCover or RAP; and
• not in receipt of compensation or damages in respect of their disability.

Clients may receive assistance from MASS even where assistance is granted under CAAS or Commonwealth Rehabilitation Scheme, as these programs emphasise workplace assistance. MASS is not intended to meet total continence needs and clients are limited by the quantity available for each type of aid. There are limits to the level of subsidy for particular categories (e.g. the client’s age) and aids. There is no client co-payment required. All clients must be clinically assessed.

The Continence Management and Advice Service (CMAS) is a state-wide service established by the West Australian Government and delivered by Silver Chain. The service provides an annual consultation with a continence nurse advisor and access to a subsidy of up to $480 a year for pads and/or products, if required.

The following eligibility criteria apply :

• are aged 16 years and over;
• hold a pensioner concession card or a health care card;
• have a chronic or intractable continence condition for more than 6 months;and
• are a permanent resident of WA;

A continence nurse advisor will clinically assess each client. For more information on the scheme, visit the Western Australia Department of Health at www.agecare.health.wa.gov.au

The second scheme available in Western Australia is the Incontinence Pad Scheme (IPS) which at present is only available for those aged three years of age, who have a permanent continence condition which has resulted from a permanent congenital disability and live at home. IPS is funded by Lotterywest and administered by Spina Bifida Association of Western Australia. A clinical assessment is required and once application is approved, pads are allocated on a quarterly basis. The contact for this scheme is Spina Bifida Association of Western Australia on (08) 9346 7521.

Independent Living Equipment Program (ILEP) covers specialised and customised equipment, including a limited range of reusable continence supplies. ILEP does not supply or fund disposable continence supplies. Negotiable support is provided to eligible clients per assessed need. No client co-payment is required. Assessment required by suitably qualified health professional. The program covers those people who:

• are aged 18-64 years;
• have a permanent moderate or severe disability;
• live in community accommodation;
• are not eligible for CAAS assistance; and
• do not require the equipment specifically and only for work, study or recreation.

Community Equipment Scheme (CES) entitles each client to continence aids to the value of $1,000, with a co-payment of 50% of the full cost. There is a large range of products available. The scheme covers those people who:

• have a disability of long-term or indefinite duration or require equipment as part of discharge planning from hospitals or nursing homes;
• hold a Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Health Benefit Card or Interim Concession Card Entitlement;
• have not received compensation or damages in respect of the disability for which the equipment prescribed; and
• are not eligible for CAAS or DVA continence assistance.

Children are eligible if they are aged over six years and have a condition or disability resulting in incontinence. All clients require clinical assessment by a continence nurse advisor.

Territory Independence and Mobility Equipment Scheme (TIMES) covers equipment for use at home, in a residential place (not nursing homes) or in the work place, but not in the educational setting. The scheme entitles each client up to $1,500 worth of continence aids, both disposable and reusable. There is no requirement for a client co-payment. The scheme covers people of any age group who:

• have a permanent or indefinite disability;
• hold a Health Care Card, Pensioner Health Benefit Card, or Child Disability Allowance, or has financial disability;
• are not eligible for assistance from any other government program;
• have not received compensation or damages in respect of the disability for which the equipment has been prescribed; and
• have not been discharged from hospital.

Residents of government-funded community based group homes are also eligible. All clients must be clinically assessed.

The Australian Capital Territory government has re-introduced continence management products for eligible clients through the Australian Capital Territory Equipment Scheme. (ACTES) Contact the ACTES on (02) 6205 2622 for further information.

A continence nurse advisor can help ensure that the most cost-effective product is being used appropriate to your degree of incontinence. He/she may also be able to help with access to cheaper products through another supplier. For further information or a referral to a local continence clinic contact the National Continence Helpline (freecall™) 1800 33 00 66.