Continence

Continence Aids Assistance Scheme

Information about the Continence Aids Assistance Scheme, Ageing and Aged Care Division of the Australian Department of Health and Ageing

The new Guidelines and Application Form for the Continence Aids Assistance Scheme can be downloaded in PDF format:

PDF printable version of Continence Aids Assistance Scheme Application Guidelines (PDF 110 KB)

PDF printable version of Continence Aids Assistance Scheme Application Form (PDF 176 KB)

If you are unable to download the PDF file please send an email to: continence@health.gov.au for a copy to be sent to you.

Continence Aids Assistance Scheme Application Guidelines

The Continence Aids Assistance Scheme (CAAS) is an Australian Government program that assists eligible people who have permanent and severe incontinence to meet some of the costs of continence products.
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 $479.40 per year on continence products ordered through Intouch.

What is permanent and severe incontinence?

For the purpose of CAAS, permanent and severe incontinence is defined as the frequent and uncontrollable, moderate to large loss of urine or faeces which impacts on a person’s quality of life and that is unlikely to improve with medical, surgical or clinical treatment regimes.

This condition is likely to last at least two years, or for the remainder of a person’s life.

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Am I eligible for CAAS?

For the purpose of CAAS, you are eligible if you are five years of age or older and meet either requirements A or B below and meet the criteria on the CAAS Application Form.

Eligible neurological conditions

A. You have permanent and severe loss of bladder and/or bowel function (incontinence) due directly to an eligible neurological condition. A list of eligible neurological categories is provided under the heading Additional Guidelines for Health Professionals;

OR

Other conditions

B. You have permanent and severe loss of bladder and/or bowel function (incontinence) caused by another condition, for example, bladder prolase, AND you have a Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card, or if you are under 16 years, your parent/guardian has a Centrelink Concession Card.

Who Is eligible for a Centrelink Concession Card?

A Pensioner Concession Card is a card issued by Centrelink to people in receipt of certain income support payments such as the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Mature Age Allowance or Carer Payment.

For questions regarding eligibility for a Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card please contact Centrelink on 132717* (Disability, Sickness and Carers line) or 132300* (Retirement Line) or visit www.centrelink.gov.au.
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Who is not eligible for CAAS?

You are NOT eligible for CAAS if:

1. Your incontinence is one of the following types:

• transient incontinence (not permanent);
• incontinence that can be treated with an existing conservative treatment regime (for example, pelvic floor exercises or bladder re-training), medication or surgery;
• confined to night time bed wetting (enuresis);

OR

2. You are a high care resident in an Australian Government funded aged care home or receiving an Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) or EACH Dementia (EACHD) package (details below);

OR

3. You are eligible for assistance with continence products under the Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP) which is available through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs;

OR

4. Your incontinence results from a condition other than an eligible neurological condition AND you do not hold a Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card (other concession cards such as a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, a Low Income Health Care Card or a State Seniors Card are not acceptable for CAAS).

OR

5. You are not an Australian citizen or permanent Australian resident.

Recipients of Australian Government funded aged care

If you are living in an Australian Government funded aged care home, and are receiving high care, you will not be eligible for CAAS, as the home is required to provide appropriate continence products.

If you are receiving an Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) or EACH Dementia (EACHD) package while living in your own home, you will not be eligible for CAAS, as the EACH/EACHD service provider is required to provide appropriate continence products, if negotiated as part of your care plan.

If you are receiving low care in an aged care home or receiving a Community Aged Care Package (CACP) in your own home, you can apply for CAAS provided you meet the CAAS eligibility criteria.

You are required to advise Intouch if you move from low care to high care services.

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State and territory government continence schemes

If you are eligible for CAAS, and are currently receiving assistance with continence products through a state or territory government funded continence scheme, you should contact your state or territory scheme manager to find out if that assistance will be affected by your eligibility for CAAS.

How do I apply for CAAS?

If you meet the eligibility criteria you can apply for CAAS by completing the Application Form.

Section 1 - Applicant’s Particulars (GREEN)

To be completed by you or a person who can make decisions on your behalf.

Section 2 - Health Report (BLUE)

The CAAS Health Report verifies your eligibility for CAAS based on the eligibility criteria.

This must be completed by an appropriate health professional, such as a continence nurse, general practitioner, medical specialist, community nurse, physiotherapist or occupational therapist.

When returning the completed Application Form, please ensure that both Sections 1 and 2 are signed.

If your incontinence is caused by a condition other than an eligible neurological condition, you will need to provide a copy of BOTH SIDES of your Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card or a statement or letter from Centrelink verifying your entitlement to a Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card.

Parents or guardians of children aged five to 15 years need to provide a copy of BOTH SIDES of their own Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card, showing names of the people covered by the card, including the applicant, or a statement or letter from Centrelink verifying entitlement to a Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card.

Prior to 1 July 2007, eligibility for CAAS stopped at 65 years for most people. Past CAAS clients whose assistance stopped because they were 65 years or older are now eligible for CAAS due to the current expanded age eligibility. In these cases, CAAS applicants do not need to have Section 2 of the Application Form (Health Report) completed, however eligibility will be subject to confirmation of previous assistance under CAAS.Top of page

Send completed Application Form, (with a photocopy of BOTH SIDES of your Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card if required) to:

CAAS Administrator,
Intouch, PO Box 2082
MILTON QLD 4064.
Or by fax: 1300 304 274.

Intouch will process your application and contact you by letter regarding the outcome.If your application is successful, you will receive a product handbook to help you place orders to the value of your subsidy.

General information

• If your circumstances change and you no longer meet the eligibility criteria, you should inform Intouch as soon as possible.
• You may be asked to confirm your eligibility for assistance from time to time.
• CAAS clients do not need to reapply each financial year, however it is particularly advisable for children five to 15 years to have their continence needs re-assessed at least every two years by their health professional.
• Child custody arrangements can affect the level of CAAS subsidy payable.

What about my privacy?

Information provided in your application is protected by the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and the Privacy Act 1988. Intouch is required to ensure that your personal records are kept in a secure place and are not misused.

You should note, however, that in signing the CAAS Application Form you agree to have your personal details provided to another CAAS Agency, any agency authorised to supply or dispatch goods under CAAS, or to the Commonwealth. Intouch requires this information in order to provide you with continence products under CAAS. You are able to access your personal information on request.

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Where Can I Get More Information?

For more information on CAAS contact:

Intouch
Telephone: CAAS Helpline 1300 366 455*
Web site: www.intouchdirect.com.au
Email: caas@intouchdirect.com.au

Useful Contacts

• The National Continence Helpline on 1800 330 066* is a free information and referral telephone service for people affected by incontinence. This Helpline can also advise about state and territory government schemes available to assist people affected by incontinence.
• Australian Government website dedicated to bladder and bowel health, http://www.bladderbowel.gov.au
• Continence Foundation of Australia website, http://www.continence.org.au
• Aged Care Information Line 1800 500 853*
• Translating and Interpreting Service TIS National 131 450*
• National Relay Service (NRS)
  133 677* (TTY/voice)
  1300 555 727* (speak and listen)

* Calls from mobile telephones charged at applicable rates

Additional guidelines for health professionals

What is the role of the health professional in the CAAS application process?

applicants for CAAS assistance are required to obtain an assessment from an appropriate health professional such as a continence nurse, general practitioner, medical specialist, community nurse, physiotherapist or occupational therapist, to support their application. The outcome of this assessment should be recorded on the CAAS Health Report which is at Section 2 of the CAAS Application Form.

The health professional should only complete the CAAS Health Report if he or she is in a position to make an accurate assessment of the applicant in relation to their incontinence, and the cause of this incontinence.

The completed Health Report should be returned to the applicant for forwarding to Intouch.
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Eligible neurological conditions

People with incontinence caused by eligible neurological conditions listed under any of the following categories are eligible for CAAS regardless of whether they have a Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card or not (provided that they meet other CAAS eligibility criteria).

Following is a list of the most common conditions in the categories.

Category 1 SPINA BIFIDA and SYRINGOMYELIA
Category 2 CEREBRAL PALSY
Category 3 INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

• Congenital neurological infections
• Developmental Delay associated with;
- Aspergers Syndrome
- Autism
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Downs Syndrome
• Rare congenital neurological syndromes and conditions

Category 4 PARAPLEGIA and QUADRIPLEGIA
Category 5 ACQUIRED NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS

• Acquired Brain Injury
• Epilepsy
• Encephalitis
• Lewi Body Disease
• Pick's Disease
• Poliomyelitis
• Stroke/Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)

Category 6 DEGENERATIVE NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES

• Huntington Chorea/Disease
• Motor Neurone Disease
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson’s Disease

Category 7 BLADDER INNERVATION DISORDERS

• Ectopica Vesica
• Neurogenic bladder
• Neuropathic Bladder

Note: The bowel neurological condition Hirschprings Disease is eligible

Applicant should return the completed Application Form, which includes the Health Report and, a copy of both sides of the Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card if required, to:

CAAS Administrator
PO BOx 2082
MILTON QLD 4064
or Fax: 1300 304 274

Discretionary grant

The Government recently provided funding of $34,629,100 (GST Inclusive) for the continued administration by the current provider of the Continence Aids Assistance Scheme for a period of 12 months until 30 June 2009.

The recipient is Intouch Pty Ltd., PO Box 2082, MILTON QLD 4064.

This funding provides continuing support for people with permanent and severe incontinence.
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