I only just found out that this service is NOT means tested, in fact I could have been claiming it for the last 7 1/2 years! Oh well, just in case anyone else is missing out, this is what it is all about:

According to the website "CAAS is administered on behalf of the Australian Government by Intouch, the commercial arm of the Spinal Injuries Association Incorporated. CAAS clients receive a subsidy of up to $470 per year on continence products ordered through Intouch."

More information can be found at: http://www.healthconnect.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/continence-caas.htm or http://www.intouchdirect.com.au/healthcare/health.htm

The eligibility criteria and Application Form can be found at both of these sites. Basically you are eligible if "A. You have permanent and severe loss
of bladder and/or bowel function (incontinence) due directly to an eligible neurological condition." or "B. You have permanent and severe loss
of bladder and/or bowel function (incontinence) caused by another condition, for example, autism, cancer, prostate disease or dementia, AND you have a Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card, or if you are under 16 years, your parent/guardian has a Pensioner Concession Card."

As I said I recently joined and found it very easy to apply and use. There is a small medical part of the application that needs to be filled in by a health worker, but doesn't need to be by your GP. The Guidelines state: "This must be completed by an appropriate health professional, such as a continence nurse, general practitioner, medical specialist, community nurse, physiotherapist or occupational therapist."

The other great thing I found about InTouch is that you can order online and I found the prices to be better than I was previously getting.

Hi all, I am mum to a 15yo with SCI. We have been getting a limited amount of continence supplies through PADP each quarter.
Kids under 16 have only become eligible for CAAS in the last year. When I placed my last order with PADP in April the girl told me that I should not call in July as CAAS would cover that quarter. I replied that my son has high needs & we use the CAAS money for other items PADP do not cover.
Anyone know how the system works? Seems to me like we have been given an entitlement only to have it taken from us by another Government dept!!

Hi Sapphire,
Thats a sadly fairly typical situation that seems to be occuring more and more with this new policy by ENableNSW.

To give you some background. In 06/07 Enable NSW (the state body that runs PADP) created a policy whereby people can only apply for continence supplies under PADP once they can demonstrate that their full CAAS allowance of $470 has been exhausted.

The CAAS allowance as you know can be used for a range of continence supplies. There shouldn't be any reason why PADP cannot pick up and supply a listed item after CAAS has been exhausted. Is the girl you mention talking about the beginning of the new financial year? CAAS runs from July to June and so if you are requesting something for July PADP may be evoking their policy and requesting that you get it from your CAAS allocation.

As I understand it the trick here, from others out there that have found themselves in a similar situation, is to purchase your entire CAAS supply of items at once and stick it in a box room in July. You will then have proof of using up all of the CAAS allocation and can then apply for the items you really need through PADP.

That may help. I'll check in with one of my colleagues to see his thoughts about all of this and you'll see another post.

take care

Sean

Hello Sapphire,

Sorry to hear that you are getting the runaround with your local PADP coordinator who is requesting that you not place an order with PADP in July 2008 as the CAAS would cover that quarter. Sean who made the earlier reply is correct with the overall picture is that PADP, which is now being administered through Enable NSW at the NSW Department of Health, that is now strictly enforcing its policy that people that are eligible to apply for equipment, aids and appliances (including continence supplies) should be spending their CAAS budget before applying to PADP for continence supplies. But, as you are correct in stating that your son can obtain items from CAAS that are not available through PADP, and from a consumer's perspective, it is better to manage the limited government resources by purchasing the items from CAAS that are not available through PADP.

As I am consumer and access both PADP and the CAAS, I do the commonsense thing as you are trying to do for your son. At the request of PADP about four years ago, I place an order every six months using a list with the items and the quantity that I require/order. These lists were supplied to me by PADP and each list has a date to be returned in March and September. And everything was running along smoothly until I was contacted by the clinical nurse consultant in Continence from the area health service where my PADP lodgement centre is as she was put in charge of reviewing all clients that were receiving continence supplies through PADP. I had to provide written proof that I had exhausted my CAAS budget. She also said PADP would not provide me with a particular latex legbag, the type that I have been obtaining through PADP for over 10 years, because "she" did not approve of it.

So, as it was about April, I spent the balance of my CAAS budget and obtained a letter from Intouch that has the CAAS contract to state that my CAAS balance was $0 to give to PADP. In regard to the legbag, I sent the continence adviser the official PADP equipment, aids and appliances list that included the legbag in question and yes my Victory was sweet! And I continue to receive the lists from PADP to send in every six months with no questions asked about if I have spent my CAAS budget.

PADP obviously understands that people receiving continence supplies through the CAAS receive the annual allowance of $470 ($478 for 2008/2009) from July 1 and that your son will have this to obtain continence supplies at that time of year. So, I would like to suggest that your options are;
1. If you have enough continence items that you receive from PADP to hold you over till about September, place the order with PADP in September
2. Spend the entire CAAS budget at the beginning of July on the items that you did not get from PADP, obtain a letter from Intouch to state that you have $0 budget, and then place the order with PADP as usual in July.
3. Change from quarterly PADP orders to six monthly orders e.g. March and September as this will avoid PADP stating that you will need to use the CAAS funding in July.

PADP is policing this policy as the bureaucrats think it is going to save the NSW government money. I have told the NSW Department of Health that what they are trying to do is not an appropriate way for consumers to manage the limited government resources and it force PADP clients to spend their entire CAAS funding at the beginning of July and then apply to PADP anyway.

Also, are you aware that people with a spinal cord injury that require bowel management can obtain a number bowel management products free of charge from the Paraquad NSW such as enemas, suppositories and laxatives? The scheme is funded through the Federal government's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) but the catch is you have to be a financial member of Paraquad NSW to receive it. The only other cost involved is delivery charge of approximately $10. Although these products are not available through PADP some people may be purchasing them using the CAAS funding and could save money using this PBS program.

At the above-mentioned information is of assistance and happy to provide any further feedback if you require.

Regards,

Hotfoot

Thanks so much Sean & hotfoot for your replies. I'll give PADP another call & see how I go, but my plan is to spend the CAAS money now. Thanks for all the info, it really helps.

read about this forum in the last SCI magazine, great to be able to contact "real" people like yourselves!! Thanks again

WOW ! Thank you so much guys for the info - I have been getting supplies from PADP for the last 5 yrs. However my PADP does not supply us with a list & limits the products available even if they are on the prescribed list. Also we have to collect our meagre supplies once a month - quarterly or biannual ordering has never been an option. So I have been buying the majority of my stuff through Paraquad Vic. PADP has allowed me the following items once a month - 4 Vinyl Leg Bags (NO LATEX), 5 X 2000ml Bags, 1 X Foley Catheter, 1 X Catheter Valve, 1 Pkt Molicare Pads - does anyone think like me, that this is grossly inadequate. Oh, for the last 12 months we have not had a Continence Nurse - and don't look like getting another one anytime soon.
I have been getting CAAS now for 2 yrs - but I knew nothing about the PBS, and I just used a 1/4 of my CAAS funding buying my first Latex Leg Bag because I didn't know I could get one through PADP. This whole system is so convoluted & messy there must be so many others out there like me who are unaware of their entitlements. Does anyone have a list of the available PADP products that could be put on the forum ?

Hi Kaz,

That is a great idea, providing the list isn't too huge and it doesn't sound like it is. I will see what I can arrange. We will probably put it up under the Equipment forum. I will let you know how we get on sourcing the list etc.

Cheers

Hello Kaz,

I gather that you are currently in Victoria as you state that you are purchasing the majority of your stuff through Paraquad Victoria. The information I provided earlier is about NSW PADP, however, the information I provided about the PBS items available through paraquad NSW is relevant for each state as the PBS products are provided through the paraquad's in each state.

If you are accessing the NSW PADP you can check out the list of available products and equipment available in an attachment at the end of the NSW PADP policy which can be downloaded at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/pd/2005/PD2005_563.html

I think it is absolutely crazy for a PADP lodgement centre to only distribute suppliers on a monthly basis due to the extra cost in postage and freight. I wonder what the postage cost is for dispatching 12 orders per year compare to supplying two six monthly orders. If you are in NSW could you please let me know what hospital you are receiving the PADP items from prior to Friday, September 26 2008?

I hope this information is of assistance.

Regards,


Hotfoot

Hello Kaz,
thank you for clarifying that and I am sorry to hear that you have been unwell. PADP is required to provide a uniform service across NSW and it is the same policy & procedures and list of equipment, aids and appliances is exactly the same. if you wish to clarify any issue around PADP policy and procedures and the type and availability of equipment, aids and appliances you should call EnableNSW on 1800 362 253. PADP has just received an extra $11 million for the current financial year 2008/2009 which will pay for all the items on the PADP waiting list and there is virtually no excuse for the PADP lodgement centre staff to tell you that it Does not have the money for certain equipment, aids and appliances that are on the actual PADP list and I would like to suggest that you put in an application for whatever equipment you require that is on the current PADP equipment list. If you do not make an application it does not show up in the data the demand on the service and the real budget that it required for the PADP.

regards,

Hotfoot

Thanks hotfoot, I will give EnableNSW a call, as it will help everyone in this area, I am not in the minority unfortunately, we have lots of problems with our PADP.

Anyone, Anytime is the theme for Carers Week 2007 in recognition that becoming a carer is often unexpected and can happen at any stage of life. To help celebrate Carers Week, carer support groups across NSW are encouraged to organise an event or activily for their members. To achieve this, assistance is given by the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care through Carers NSW.