The Victorian Eyecare Service (VES) will subside any VES or Victorian Aboriginal Spectacles Subsidy Scheme (VASSS) patients who have lost or damaged glasses due to the recent floods.
VES patients can present to an Australian College of Optometry (ACO) clinic or other VES-participating optometry practice to organise their replacement glasses or contact lenses.
In these cases, the VES will cover the entire cost of the replacement, including the patient contribution.
The VES provides subsidised glasses and contact lenses to pensioner and health care cardholders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and refugees, while VASSS provide First Nations individuals with glasses approved by community elders costing $10.
For more than 35 years, the ACO has worked with the Victorian Government to provide and manage the VES and the VASSS so that Victorians in need have access to affordable eye care. During this time more than two million Victorians experiencing disadvantage have benefited from the service.
“VES practitioners should be satisfied that the additional subsidy is for genuine direct loss resulting from the floods by considering residential address and other circumstances to support the claims,” the ACO stated.
“A special request form will need to be submitted to the VES office with all claims clearly identifies as ‘VES flood additional subsidy’.”
VES practitioners who require any further information or assistance can contact the ACO office on 1300 303 125.
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