💳 Card names are changing (2026). DVA is moving to formal names and re-issuing cards between July and October 2026: Veteran Card – All Conditions (commonly known as the Gold Card), Veteran Card – Specific Conditions (White Card) and Veteran Card – Pharmaceuticals Only (Orange Card). DVA says colour names will be phased out gradually, entitlements are unchanged, and existing cards stay valid until replaced — so this page still uses the colour names patients know. For a Specific Conditions (White) card, DVA advises that a patient starting with a new provider shows their accepted conditions (available in MyService, including the digital card). Source: DVA — Veteran Card ↗; DVA Veteran Card FAQs (July 2026).
For receptionists and GPs. Select the card type to see billing steps and eligibility.
CliniciansAUDVA · MBS
Does the patient have a DVA card?
No DVA card → bill Medicare as normal.
If the patient is a veteran without a DVA card, they may be eligible to apply. Suggest they call 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372) or visit dva.gov.au to check eligibility.
Ask the patient:
"Have you served in the Australian Defence Force? Do you have a DVA card — it would be a gold, white, or orange card with your name on it?"
If they think they might be eligible but don't have a card, suggest they call 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372). Veterans 70+ with qualifying service automatically get a Gold Card — they may not know.
In the meantime, bill Medicare for today's visit. They can bring their DVA card next time.
What colour is the card?
Gold Card
✅ What to do at reception
1.Record the DVA file number (on the card) — not their Medicare number2.Bill DVA, not Medicare — select DVA as the payer in your software3.Patient pays nothing — no gap fees allowed with DVA billing4.Use same MBS item numbers but the DVA fee schedule (higher than Medicare)
What Gold Card covers
Everything. GP visits, specialists, hospital (public + private), dental, optical, physio, psychology (no session limit — unlike Medicare's 10/year), podiatry, audiology, prescriptions ($7.70/item via RPBS until safety net), ambulance, home nursing, medical aids.
The visit does not need to be about a service-related condition.
❌ Common mistakes
⚠️Billing Medicare instead of DVA — the patient misses out on full cover and your practice gets a lower rebate⚠️Charging a gap — Gold Card patients should never pay out-of-pocket if you bill DVA⚠️Not being DVA-registered — you must register as a DVA provider to bill DVA
Is your practice DVA-registered?
You need to register as a DVA provider through PRODA. If not registered, you'll need to bill Medicare for today and advise the patient to find a DVA-registered GP. Most practices are registered — check with your practice manager.
🩺 For the doctor / registrar
💊Prescriptions: Write as RPBS, not PBS. The RPBS formulary is broader — more medications available. Patient pays $7.70/item.📋Care plans: Yes — bill DVA for 965/967 using DVA fee schedule. Same structure as Medicare care plans. Allied health under DVA has no 5-session limit — sessions are based on clinical need.🧠Mental health: MHTP (2715/2717) works the same. Key difference: no 10-session cap on psychology under DVA. Sessions continue as long as clinically needed. Also refer to Open Arms (1800 011 046) — free, no referral needed, 24/7.📨Referrals: Write referrals the same way. Note the patient's DVA file number on the referral. The specialist bills DVA too.🏥Hospital: Patient can go public or private at no cost. DVA covers private hospital — you don't need to check their private health insurance.🦿Allied health: Gold Card holders can often self-refer to physio, podiatry, OT, dietetics without a GP referral. But a GP referral helps coordinate care and is good practice.📝Prior approval: Some services need DVA prior approval (e.g. some dental, high-cost items, non-MBS services). When in doubt, call DVA Provider line: 1800 550 457.
White Card
✅ What to do at reception
1.Ask: "Is today's visit about one of your accepted DVA conditions?"2.If YES: Bill DVA. Record DVA file number. Patient pays nothing.3.If NO: Bill Medicare as normal. The White Card doesn't cover it.4.Check accepted conditions — ask the patient to show their MyService app (conditions listed under their card), or call DVA Provider line 1800 550 457
What White Card covers
Treatment for accepted service-related conditions only. Example: if the patient's accepted condition is PTSD, bill DVA for psychology, GP visits about PTSD, and PTSD medications. A broken ankle unrelated to service → bill Medicare.
🧠 Important exception — mental health
White Card holders can access treatment for ANY mental health condition via Non-Liability Health Care (NLHC) — even if it's not an accepted condition. This includes psychology, psychiatry, GP mental health consults, social work, OT. Bill DVA.
Also covers: cancer diagnosed after service, and tuberculosis — regardless of whether accepted.
❌ Common mistakes
⚠️Billing DVA for a non-accepted condition — DVA will reject the claim⚠️Billing Medicare for mental health when it should be DVA — White Card covers ALL mental health via NLHC⚠️Not asking which condition the visit is for — the receptionist or GP must clarify
🩺 For the doctor / registrar
🧠Mental health — bill DVA, not Medicare. Even if the MH condition is NOT an accepted condition, NLHC covers it. Write the MHTP and referral as normal — but bill DVA. The patient gets unlimited psychology sessions, not Medicare's 10.💊Prescriptions: For accepted conditions → write as RPBS. For non-accepted conditions → write as PBS (standard Medicare).📋Care plans: If the chronic condition is an accepted DVA condition, bill DVA for the care plan (965/967). If not accepted, bill Medicare.🎗️Cancer: If diagnosed after service, bill DVA for all cancer treatment — regardless of whether it's an accepted condition. This is automatic under NLHC.📝New condition? If you suspect a condition is service-related but it's not yet accepted, encourage the patient to lodge a claim with DVA. Many conditions develop years after service (hearing loss, PTSD, musculoskeletal). Call 1800 VETERAN or apply via MyService.
Orange Card
✅ What to do at reception
1.Bill Medicare as normal — the Orange Card does NOT cover GP visits2.The card is for pharmacy only — prescriptions at concessional rate ($7.70)3.Write prescriptions as RPBS (not PBS) if the medication is RPBS-listed — wider range available
What Orange Card covers
Medications only — under the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS). The RPBS list is broader than standard PBS, so these patients may access medications not available to other concession card holders. The patient shows the Orange Card at the pharmacy, not at the GP.
Does NOT cover: GP visits, hospital, specialists, allied health, dental, optical.
❌ Common mistake
Trying to bill DVA for a GP visit — the Orange Card only covers pharmacy. Bill Medicare for the consultation.
🩺 For the doctor / registrar
💊Write prescriptions as RPBS when the medication is on the RPBS formulary — this gives the patient access to a wider range of medications at concessional rate ($7.70).📋Check eligibility for a White or Gold Card. If the patient has service-related conditions, they may qualify for a White Card (which covers treatment, not just pharmacy). Encourage them to call 1800 VETERAN.
DVA Programs to know about
🩺 Veteran's Health Check
A comprehensive health assessment tailored to ADF service. DVA has a quick reference guide for GPs. Bill using standard health assessment items (701–707).
📋 Coordinated Veterans' Care (CVC)
For eligible Veteran Card holders with chronic conditions and complex care needs. GP + practice nurse (or DVA community nurse) model. 90-day periods of care — claim through Medicare (not DVA directly) at end of each period. Key restrictions:
❌ Cannot be delivered via telehealth — all CVC consultations must be in person
❌ Permanent aged care facility residents are not eligible
⚠️ White Card holders eligible only if they have a DVA-accepted mental health condition
✅ CVC items can be co-claimed with standard RMFS/MBS items including care plans
📈WIP Practice Stream DVA loading — practices with WIP (Practice Stream) payments that treat Gold Card holders receive an additional DVA loading, paid annually in August via Services Australia🌿Medicinal cannabis (RPBS) — veterans can access medicinal cannabis through RPBS. GP prescribing advice: VAPAC on 1800 552 580 or ppo@dva.gov.au🏥Rural Enhancement Initiative (REI) — 10% additional loading for GPs providing services to veterans in designated rural public hospitals (in-hospital items only)
📌 DVA Official Quick Guides — print for your tea room