CVC Program: Expert Guide to Coordinated Veterans' Care in Australia
Managing multiple chronic conditions after military service shouldn’t mean juggling endless appointments or repeating your story to different healthcare providers. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Coordinated Veterans’ Care (CVC) Program connects eligible veterans with a dedicated care team to streamline treatment and reduce unplanned hospital visits. If you hold a Gold Card with chronic conditions or a White Card for DVA-accepted mental health conditions, the CVC Program could transform how you manage your health. In this guide, we’ll explain exactly how the program works and how to access it.
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What Is the CVC Program and How Does It Help Veterans?
The Coordinated Veterans Care Program, developed by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), provides team-based, proactive care for veterans managing chronic conditions and those at a high risk of hospitalisation. Through this program, veterans receive ongoing support from healthcare providers, such as GPs and Practice Nurses, who create a personalised care plan tailored to each veteran's specific health needs. Veterans with a DVA Gold or White Card may be eligible for the program, which aims to improve health outcomes and reduce hospitalisations by addressing health issues early.
Key Features of the Coordinated Veterans Care Program
The CVC Program provides a structured approach to ongoing healthcare management for veterans with chronic conditions. Below are the essential features:
1) Proactive Care Coordination
The CVC Program relies on a care team coordinating veterans' health needs. Led by the veteran’s GP, the team may also include a Practice Nurse or Care Coordinator. Their goal is to deliver tailored healthcare that ensures veterans better manage their chronic health conditions.
2) Personalised Care Plans
Veterans enrolled in the CVC Program receive comprehensive care plans tailored to their specific health requirements. These plans include chronic disease management, continuous monitoring, and self-care advice, ensuring veterans receive the right support based on their condition.
3) Support for Chronic Conditions
The CVC Program is designed to help veterans manage chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and DVA-accepted mental health issues. By focusing on early intervention and ongoing care, the program reduces the likelihood of hospitalisation caused by complications from chronic conditions.
Key aspects of support include:
Chronic condition management: Helping veterans with conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and mental health issues.
Prevention focus: Reducing risks associated with chronic diseases by addressing health issues early.
Continuous care: Providing regular check-ins and monitoring to maintain a veteran's health stability.
Hospitalisation risk reduction: Minimising the chances of unplanned hospital visits through effective management of chronic conditions.
4) Holistic Support
Beyond managing physical health, the CVC Program addresses veterans' mental and emotional well-being. It offers counselling services, support for DVA-accepted mental health conditions, and assistance in making lifestyle adjustments to improve overall health.
5) Access to Social Assistance
The program also connects veterans to CVC social assistance, providing them with resources that address social and lifestyle factors affecting their health. This ensures veterans receive a comprehensive care plan that goes beyond medical support, covering essential social aspects too.
The Role of the DVA in the CVC Program
The DVA plays a key role in delivering the CVC Program by providing critical funding, resources, and oversight. It ensures veterans receive tailored, coordinated care that meets their specific health needs, especially for those managing chronic conditions. Here are the DVA key roles:
1) Funding and Resource Support
The DVA provides financial backing for the CVC Program, covering services for both DVA Gold and White Card holders. This funding includes GP consultations, nursing services, and allied health care needed to manage chronic health conditions. Additionally, the DVA ensures that veterans can access social assistance and other resources that contribute to their overall health and well-being.
2) Managing Eligibility
The DVA is responsible for evaluating veteran eligibility for the CVC Program. Veterans holding a DVA Gold or White Card and managing chronic health conditions may qualify. The DVA provides clear guidelines and works closely with healthcare professionals to assess and confirm eligibility, ensuring that veterans who qualify receive the full scope of services under the program.
Key eligibility criteria include:
Gold Card holders managing chronic conditions like heart disease or diabetes.
White Card holders with DVA-accepted conditions, including service-related mental health conditions.
Veterans who are at high risk of unplanned hospitalisation due to their chronic conditions.
3) Collaboration with Healthcare Providers
The DVA collaborates with healthcare providers and general practices to facilitate coordinated care for veterans. This partnership ensures veterans receive continuous and comprehensive care, reducing the risk of unplanned hospitalisations and enhancing the management of their chronic conditions.
4) Supporting Chronic Disease Management
The DVA funds the creation and monitoring of comprehensive care plans developed by veterans’ regular GPs and care teams. These plans provide proactive and ongoing management for conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and DVA-accepted mental health conditions.
5) Providing Guidance and Resources
The DVA offers veterans access to key information about the CVC Program, including enrolment details, available services, and benefits. Veterans are encouraged to consult their GP or visit the DVA website to learn more about the program and how it can support their health needs.
What Services Are Available Through the CVC Program?
CVC Program offers various services to support veterans with chronic health conditions. The program aims to provide proactive, coordinated care to improve health outcomes and reduce the risk of unplanned hospitalisations.
1) Chronic Disease Management
Veterans enrolled in the CVC Program receive comprehensive support for managing chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and DVA-accepted mental health conditions. Their care is overseen by their usual GP, who works with a care team to develop a personalised care plan. This plan is regularly monitored and updated to meet the veteran’s evolving health needs.
Core Coordination Services
Your GP consultations go beyond standard appointments.
They involve comprehensive planning, coordination, and oversight of your entire treatment strategy.
Your care coordinator provides ongoing support between GP visits. This includes arranging specialist appointments, coordinating with pharmacists to review medications, scheduling allied health services, and ensuring you know your treatment plan.
The program coordinates access to various allied health services as needed. Depending on your conditions, this might include physiotherapy for chronic pain, podiatry for diabetes-related foot care, or occupational therapy to help manage daily activities.
All CVC program services can be claimed in addition to other services available through the Repatriation Medical Fee Schedule and Medicare Benefits Schedule. Participating in the CVC program doesn't prevent you from accessing other healthcare services you need.
Access to Allied Health Services
Your care plan can include referrals to allied health providers, where they’ll meaningfully improve your daily function and reduce hospital risk. Depending on your needs, this may involve:
Physiotherapy for pain, mobility, or post-injury rehabilitation
Podiatry for diabetes-related foot care and ulcer prevention
Occupational therapy for safer home routines, energy conservation, and equipment
Dietetics for managing weight, diabetes, or cardiovascular risk
Exercise physiology for condition-specific activity programs
How it works:
Your GP identifies the allied health goals in your care plan.
Your care coordinator books appointments with providers, shares relevant medical history, and checks on progress between reviews.
Services are coordinated with your GP and specialists to help prevent conflicting treatments and avoid duplication.
Any adjustments (e.g., swapping providers or adding sessions) are made at reviews or sooner if something changes.
Tip: If an allied health therapy is helping or not, tell your coordinator early. Your plan is designed to adapt quickly, not once a year.
CVC Social Assistance for Isolated Veterans
If you're experiencing social isolation or at risk of becoming socially isolated, you may access CVC Social Assistance as part of your care plan.
This 12-week service helps you reconnect with your community. Social Assistance might include:
Regular visits from a Veterans' Home Care service provider
activities or courses to connect with your community
assistance in making social contacts
Your GP must refer you by contacting the Veterans' Home Care Assessment Agency. The referral should explain your social isolation and the intended goals of the assistance.
Social isolation significantly increases hospitalisation risk. Many veterans struggle with isolation after leaving service, and the CVC program recognises this as a legitimate health concern requiring intervention.
Mental Health Coordination
For veterans with a DVA-accepted chronic mental health condition, the CVC Program provides proactive coordination of mental health care. Your care plan can integrate treatment from psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals. The program’s coordination helps your mental health care work in tandem with the management of your physical health conditions.
Chronic pain worsens depression.
PTSD increases cardiovascular risk.
Anxiety complicates diabetes management.
If you're struggling with PTSD or other mental health conditions, the CVC program coordinates your access to specialised treatment while monitoring how mental health affects overall wellbeing and hospitalisation risk.
Steps to Access the CVC Program
Accessing the program begins with a conversation with your GP. The process involves several steps, but your GP handles most administrative requirements.
Finding the Right GP
Your usual GP, the doctor who provides most of your care, is the best starting point. This GP is familiar with your health history and can assess whether you meet the program's eligibility criteria.
If you don't currently have a usual GP, find one who accepts Veteran Gold or White Card holders. Not all GPs participate in the CVC program; therefore, please confirm this before booking.
When calling to book, specifically ask: "Does this practice participate in the DVA CVC program?" This saves you wasting time with a GP who can't enrol you.
What to Prepare Before Your Appointment
Gather information about your health conditions and current treatment before meeting with your GP. Bring a list of all medications you're taking, including dosages and the names of your prescribing doctors.
Document any recent hospitalisations, emergency department visits, or significant health events. This information helps your GP assess your risk of unplanned hospitalisation.
If you're a White Card holder, check your MyService account before your appointment to confirm which conditions DVA has accepted. Take screenshots or notes about what you see, particularly noting whether conditions are listed as "Treatment Only" versus those received by DVA.
Bring your Veteran Card to the appointment. Your GP needs to verify your card type and status to determine eligibility.
The Enrollment Conversation
During your appointment, discuss your chronic conditions, the challenges you face managing them, and whether you're at risk of unplanned hospitalisation. Your GP can use the eligibility tool in the CVC Toolbox to assess whether you meet the criteria.
Be honest about your struggles. If you're missing appointments, forgetting medications, or feeling overwhelmed by managing multiple conditions, say so. These are precisely the problems the CVC program addresses.
If you're eligible and consent to participate, your GP will arrange the initial assessment and work with you to develop a comprehensive care plan. This initial assessment must occur face-to-face; telehealth isn't permitted for CVC program enrollment.
Exploring DVA-Accepted vs NLHC Coverage
For White Card holders, knowing whether your mental health condition is DVA-accepted is important. DVA provides specific guidance on how to check this.
Log in to your MyService account and review the conditions listed for you.
If a mental health condition shows "All Mental Health Conditions - Treatment Only" or just "Treatment," it's covered under NLHC but isn't a DVA-accepted condition for CVC program purposes.
If a specific mental health condition like Major Depression or PTSD is listed without "Treatment Only," DVA has accepted it as service-related. This makes you potentially eligible for the CVC program if you meet other criteria.
Your GP can also verify your DVA-accepted conditions by calling the Health Provider Enquiry line with your consent.
Getting Maximum Value from the CVC Program
Simply enrolling isn't enough. Your engagement determines how effectively the program improves your health outcomes.
Communicate Honestly with Your Care Team
If a treatment isn't working, let them know
If you're struggling with medication side effects, speak up
If you're finding it difficult to follow your care plan, explain why.
Your care team can't help solve problems they don't know exist. Many veterans tough it out, thinking they're being stoic. That's not strength, it's sabotaging your own health.
Respond when your care coordinator contacts you. They maintain at least monthly communication to monitor progress and coordinate services. Ignoring their calls or messages disrupts the continuity of care the program provides.
Attend Your Scheduled Appointments
The 90-day review with your GP isn't optional. Failing to complete this review can result in your removal from the program.
If you are unable to make an appointment, please reach out to your care coordinator as soon as possible to reschedule. Life happens; just communicate about it.
Your care team works around your schedule as much as possible, but you are expected to attend appointments as scheduled. The program can't coordinate care for someone who doesn't participate.
Set Realistic Health Goals
During care planning, set achievable goals. Overly ambitious goals lead to frustration, while goals that are too modest won't drive meaningful improvement.
Your care team helps you find the right balance. Your goal is to walk to the letterbox daily rather than running a marathon. That's fine, progress is progress.
Review and adjust your goals during your 90-day reviews. What seemed realistic three months ago might need revision based on how your conditions have progressed.
Combining CVC with Your Other DVA Entitlements
The CVC program works alongside other DVA benefits you may be entitled to claim. Many veterans don't realise they can pursue permanent impairment compensation while participating in the CVC program.
Exploring Permanent Impairment Claims
If your chronic conditions result from service-related injuries or illnesses, you may qualify for permanent impairment payments under MRCA. These payments compensate you for the ongoing impact of accepted conditions, separate from the healthcare coordination the CVC program provides.
The CVC program coordinates your healthcare. Permanent impairment claims compensate you for the impact of service-related conditions. Both serve different purposes, and you can and should pursue both if you're eligible.
We see veterans all the time who've been in the CVC program for years, managing conditions like chronic back pain, PTSD, or hearing loss without ever claiming the compensation they're entitled to. Don't make that mistake.
How Veterans First Consulting Helps
While your GP manages your CVC program enrollment and participation, we help you access the full range of DVA entitlements to which you are entitled. We work for you, not DVA.
Knowing what you're entitled to claim from DVA can be overwhelming. The system is complex, with multiple types of claims, cards, and support programs interacting in ways that aren't always clear.
We help you identify every benefit you may qualify for based on your service history and accepted conditions. This includes reviewing whether you should pursue permanent impairment claims, income support payments, or applications for Gold or White Cards if you don't already hold one.
Our expertise stems from our exclusive work with veterans on DVA claims. We understand how to navigate the process efficiently and accurately, reducing the delays and frustrations many veterans experience.
Professional Claims Support That Gets Results
If you're managing chronic conditions through the CVC program, chances are those conditions may qualify for permanent impairment compensation. We help you prepare and submit claims that accurately document the impact of your conditions.
Our service includes gathering necessary medical evidence, completing DVA forms correctly, and liaising with DVA throughout the assessment process. This professional support typically accelerates claim processing and enhances outcomes compared to submitting claims without expert guidance.
We're an independent advocacy firm, not a free ESO. We charge a fee for our services, but our professional expertise often results in veterans receiving significantly higher compensation than they would receive on their own. We only get paid when your claim is successful.
Common CVC Program Questions Answered
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Yes. You can withdraw from the CVC program at any time. Simply tell your GP you no longer wish to participate. However, before withdrawing, consider whether the issue is with the program itself or with how it's being delivered. Sometimes, changing care coordinators or adjusting your care plan can resolve the issue.
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Yes. The program is designed to be ongoing. You remain enrolled as long as you continue to benefit from participation and still meet eligibility criteria at your 90-day reviews. Some veterans stay in the program for years. Others improve to the point where they no longer need intensive coordination. Both outcomes are positive.
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No. Participating in the CVC program doesn't affect your eligibility for permanent impairment claims, income support, or any other DVA entitlements. In fact, being in the CVC program often generates medical documentation that can strengthen permanent impairment claims by showing ongoing treatment for chronic conditions.
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Speak up. This is your care plan, not your GP's or care coordinator's. You should collaborate on developing it if something doesn't work for you. Your care team should adjust the plan based on your feedback. If they won't, that's a red flag suggesting you need a different GP for the program.
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If your GP refuses to enrol you and you believe you meet eligibility criteria, find a different GP who participates in the program. You're not stuck with a GP who won't support your health needs. Some GPs don't participate in the CVC program because it requires additional administrative work. That's their choice, but you're entitled to find a GP who will.
Taking Control of Your Health Through Coordinated Care
DVA pensions recognise your service and sacrifice, providing reliable financial support throughout retirement and beyond. To receive the benefits you've earned, it’s important to understand your entitlements, meet eligibility requirements, and approach the application process with confidence.
Whether you're approaching 60 and considering Service Pension, dealing with service-related conditions, or supporting a family after loss, professional guidance makes a significant difference. Veterans First Consulting stands ready to advocate for your interests, ensuring DVA correctly recognises your service and provides maximum support.
Don't let complex regulations or confusing paperwork prevent you from claiming your entitlements. Contact Veterans First Consulting today to assess your eligibility and begin securing the pension benefits you deserve. Your service earned these benefits, and you'll receive them.
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