CAAS 2 CAPS

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Q: I have heard that CAAS is being changed. What is the new system?

A: From 1 July 2010 the Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) replaces CAAS. This Australian Government program assists eligible people who have permanent and severe incontinence due to a neurological condition to meet some of the costs of continence products.

CAPS provides a direct payment of $489.95 per year for the purchase of continence products. The products can be bought from any supplier.

To apply, obtain an application form from www.bladderbowel.gov.au or by calling National Continence Helpline on 1800 330 066. Existing CAAS clients do not need to fill out a new CAPS application form.

You can purchase from the supplier of your choice, including disability product stores or your local pharmacy. Call 1800 330 066 for a list. Shop wisely to make sure that your allowance lasts as long as possible. Ordering in bulk for a longer period will save on delivery costs.

Some laxative products (Bisacodyl, Macrogol, Glycerol, Sorbitol with sodium citrate and sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, and Sterculia With frangula bark) are available free under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. They are supplied by the Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association in each state and territory. Make sure that you are not using your allowance to purchase those items.

If you have used up your entitlement and need more products, a limited range is available free of charge from state and territory equipment schemes. You will need to show that your CAPS funds have been entirely used.


The information has been updated with the list of PBS products.

Posted by: admin on 07 Jul 2010 11:54am

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The above advice to "shop wisely to make sure that your allowance lasts as long as possible" is very patronising. Furthermore, the list of "suppliers" provided by the government is almost useless, as it includes manufacturers who do not sell direct to the public, and a number of retailers that sell nothing more than what can be found in a supermarket. It also does not indicate where these "suppliers" are. What it comes back to is that the state based SCI associations are still the only place to get most specialised items, and reviewing the list of suppliers is largely a waste of time. What would be fundamentally more useful for consumers would be a comparison of retail prices from different associations for the top 20 most purchased items. In my experience, Intouch has been cheaper for almost every item I buy, but not all. "Some products are available free under the PBS". Can you provide a detailed list of which continence products are available under the PBS? "If you have used up your entitlement and need more products, a limited range is available free of charge from state and territory equipment schemes". In NSW, you will only be eligible to apply to Enable (PADP) if you have the patience of a saint, your income is below $40k, and there is no guarantee (or even likelihood) that your application will be successful, given their limited budget. We need the facts, not the fairy tales!

Posted by: Cranky Girl on 03 Jul 2010 5:18pm

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