Dear Practitioner,
Firstly, we extend our gratitude to continence practitioners for assisting our consumers with their continence needs. We have been fortunate in recent times to fund all new and existing consumers with no wait times within our annual capped budget.
Unfortunately, due to increased demand and the high volume of applications we are currently receiving we are now re-introducing a waitlist.
Dear Practitioners
We wanted to provide you with an update on a backlog of home modifications funding/applications that came about during Covid. We have been continuously working through the back log and are pleased to advise that we have been able to progress many of these but are still needing to finalise some applications between Mar 2022 - Mar 2023.
How You Can Help
If you have submitted a home modifications application prior to March 2023, and an order has not been placed, please contact the team so that we can ascertain any outstanding paperwork and progress the application.
Dear Practitioners
The SWEP Lymphoedema program administration team have noticed an increase in incomplete applications being submitted and this causes unnecessary delays for our consumers and extra administration work for staff, suppliers and practitioners.
The most common reasons for an application being deemed incomplete are listed below. Please review this list as it is important in helping us to reduce delays in processing your requests.
Dear Practitioners,
We are writing to apologise to SWEP registered Practitioners who may have received large volumes of portal generated duplicate emails on Wednesday, 26th April, 2023.
Dear Practitioners
We are writing to provide an update on the SWEP Non-customised Assistive Technology Tender.
As mentioned in our previous communique dated December 2022, SWEP undertook a formal procurement process for non-customised assistive technology equipment last year. In December contracts were awarded to eight suppliers and we are excited to announce that all contracts have just now been endorsed.
All tender contracted items have been loaded into the SWEP database and added to the online SWEP Contracted Items Picklist Catalogue. We are currently working on a new improved online catalogue, which we hope to roll out in the coming months, that will include pictures and more comprehensive details of each tendered item.
Dear Practitioner,
We have received enquiries regarding whether building supplier Pacman is continuing to do work for SWEP consumers. We have reached out to Pacman who have advised that they will no longer be doing home modifications for our consumers.
Dear AT Practitioners
We are writing to you to let you know that our current Supplier contracts for non-customised assistive technology, are due to expire on 31 December 2022.
This year we undertook a formal procurement process, including a desktop and hands-on evaluation of over 500 pieces of assistive technology including manual wheelchairs, walking aids, scooters, three function beds, mattresses, pressure cushions, bathroom aids, hoists, specialised seating, rise recline chairs etc. This involved engagement of three experts from our Clinical Advisory Panel to undertake the actual evaluation of products put forward by Suppliers.
Dear Practitioner
We have recently identified an error on our orthotics quote template. Whilst it is noted on the template that warranty details are required, there has been no allocated area for this information to be entered. As a result, the quote template has now been updated on the website here
Dear Practitioner
Further to our communique dated 14 September, 2022 we are writing to apologise for errors made in our communication regarding the Convatec range of products, and would like to correct these in the points below:
The selected range of products that has been discontinued by Convatec is attached here
As previously advised, we have comparative products available for discontinued items through Independence Australia.
Dear Practitioners,
Please see flyer from Independence Australia with closure dates for the upcoming holiday period. To ensure pre-Christmas delivery of products for your consumer please make sure your orders are in before December 1st 2022.
SWEP has completed a review of how we manage home modifications applications and has recognised the current process using an approval in principle (AIP) model requires changing. We are therefore streamlining processes and documentation, to allow us to appropriately assess the request on receipt of application.
We have worked with our Clinical Advisors and staff to review feedback received from practitioners and consumers which has resulted in the removal of the AIP model. We acknowledge that the AIP process has added unnecessary layers of complexity for practitioners and SWEP in submitting and managing home modifications applications.
Dear Practitioners,
We are very excited to let you know that we have received additional non-recurrent funding for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 financial years.
Based on current demand trends, this means that we are now in a position to order applications for eligible consumers when all documentation is received at SWEP.
Over the coming months we will continuously monitor any change in demand trends for support through our programs and will let you know if there is any need to change this practice.
Dear Practitioner,
SWEP have been advised by Independence Australia of a product recall for Hollister urinary drainage bags due to a leakage issue. There are certain manufacturing lots that are affected. Information on the recall can be found via the Hollister recall notice here.
Dear Practitioners,
SWEP have been working closely with our Laryngectomy Consumables and Voice Aids suppliers to ensure we streamline the quote process for all stakeholders. Laryngectomy suppliers have agreed to set pricing annually for our consumers.
We are pleased to advise that practitioners will no longer need to source quotes from the suppliers and can now use the price lists and quote spreadsheets attached to our website https://swep.bhs.org.au/laryngectomy-consumables-program.php
Dear Practitioner,
We are pleased to advise you about additional funding we have received for the next two financial years. This funding is the result of a Whole of Government budget bid to continue to provide a range of supports for Victorians who do not meet the NDIS eligibility criteria, or where the NDIS cannot support a participant's outcomes with supports under the NDIS.
The additional funding will be targeted specifically for the consumer cohort seeking support through VA&EP who are aged under 65 years and ineligible for support through the NDIS.
The current LCGP operational policies will remain in
place until further consultation work has been carried out. Given some of the
feedback on the proposed change, and in line with the Department of Health, we
will pause the implementation and further investigate any unintended
consequences to ensure patient access to these garments is not adversely
impacted.
Dear Practitioners
We are very pleased to advise that the Department of Health (DH) have approved changes to the available continence product list for consumers using catheters, to include inter-related Catheter Change Packs (Independence Australia Product code/SWEP Picklist code: 10000442).
Changes to the SWEP Operational Policies and inclusion of the Catheter Packs will be implemented from July 1, 2022 and these packs will be available to select for your consumer via the SWEP database.
In the 2020-21FY, the Department of Health (DH) provided additional funding for a term of four years to the Lymphoedema Compression Garment Program (LCGP). The objective of the additional funding was to increase access to an approved range of subsidised garments and the number of consumers supported.
Review of demand trends since the injection of additional funds has identified that the program has had a far greater reach for this consumer cohort and enabled introduction of an increased range of garments.
Through feedback channels, processes implemented have appeared to unfairly disadvantage consumers in relation to the funding they receive, based on the number of garments they need per limb or number of limbs affected. This has created confusion for consumers and placed extra administrative burden for Practitioners, Suppliers and SWEP staff and does not align with the overarching subsidy limits by equipment category across other Victorian Aids & Equipment programs.
Dear Practitioner,
SWEP is aware that some Lymphoedema Practitioners are still adapting to the electronic format used to submit SWEP applications.
Within the SWEP portal there are some shortcuts which make repeat applications quicker, and practitioners have identified some hints and tips that are perhaps unique to lymphoedema applications.
Dear Practitioner,
Last year SWEP implemented a new process for the management of 'low-cost' (<$250) applications, in order to eliminate waiting times. This was to help alleviate the administrative burden for AT Practitioners, administration staff and provide faster access to much need low cost equipment.
The process has been working well, however we have identified an issue associated with the management of these applications when submitted for multiple items i.e the application includes a 'high-cost' (>$250) and 'low-cost' item (<$250), (e.g. an application for a lift/recliner chair and low back utility chair).
The SWEP eligibility requirements and credentialing Standard for Lymphoedema Practitioners (compression garments) has changed to support consumer access and choice, as well as to align with changes to the Australasian Lymphology Association (ALA) Accredited Lymphoedema Practitioner Program, and new competency standards that underpin ALA endorsed training programs.
