Medical and rehabilitation expenses

Once your claim has been accepted, we may pay reasonable medical and rehabilitation expenses relating to your claim.

Q-COMP has a list of set fees for most medical, hospital and rehabilitation treatments that you may need while undergoing treatment for your injury. This is called a table of costs and we can only pay up to the amount for that service.

If you attend a medical or allied health practitioner who charges above the table of costs, you’ll be responsible for paying the ‘gap’ or the difference in the fee charged.

Expenses we will pay for

• medical treatment by a registered person, for example a doctor, dentist or physiotherapist
• surgical and hospital expenses and medicines essential to the workers recovery, for example bandages or prescription drugs.
• rehabilitation treatment and equipment or services needed to help the worker recover, for example: wheelchairs, crutches, or return to work services.
• travelling expenses for the worker’s medical treatment, rehabilitation or examination by a registered person.

Paying for services

In most cases the medical or allied health practitioner will charge WorkCover directly for the services treated and will send us the invoice for payment. However, sometimes they may want you to pay for these services at the time of treatment.

If you have to pay for services keep all original receipts, mark the receipts and invoices very clearly with your name and claim number and either send to WorkCover by:

• online document upload
• fax to 1300 651 387
• mail to GPO Box 2459, Brisbane Qld 4001.

If your claim has been accepted and the costs are directly associated with the injury, we’ll reimburse you directly into your nominated bank account.

Hospital

WorkCover may cover the hospital costs of a work-related injury for:

• non-elective hospitalisation up to four days
• non-elective hospitalisation for more than four days, only when agreed to between WorkCover and the worker, before the hospitalisation or any extension of the hospitalisation
• elective hospitalisation only when agreed to between WorkCover and the worker before the hospitalisation.

Non-elective hospitalisation is the treatment of life-threatening injuries or injuries that may result in the loss of or serious damage to a limb or organ.

Elective hospitalisation involves treatment or a procedure that the injured worker and their treating doctor decide is appropriate for the effective treatment of the injury.

Expenses not covered

• treatment by a non-registered person including most alternative medicine treatments (for example massage and acupuncture unless provided by a state registered practitioner such as a physiotherapist or doctor)
• some travel expenses, such as trips less than 20km, one way or if there is a closer treatment provider, but the worker chooses to attend another further away
• unauthorised hospital costs

If your claim has not been accepted, you’ll be responsible for paying medical and rehabilitation costs.

If you would like more information on support and benefits available, call us on 1300 362 128.