ACC will only pay for appropriate treatment provided within your normal scope of practice. If you are not appropriately qualified, you must refer the client to an appropriate provider. ACC imposes no special requirements for referring your patients for further treatment. If their injury requires them to be treated by another provider, simply follow your usual clinical practice.
Acute treatment
Acute treatment is:
- the first visit to a treatment provider for treatment for a personal injury for which the client has cover
- the following treatments if, in the treatment provider’s reasonable clinical judgement, the need for the treatment is urgent given the likely clinical effect on the client of any delay in treatment
- any subsequent treatment to that treatment provider for the injury for which the client has cover
- any referral by that treatment provider to any other treatment provider for the injury for which the client has cover.
Acute admissions
An acute admission means and admission within seven days of the decision being made to admit, unless otherwise specified in Regulations.
Deciding if acute treatment is required
A treatment provider must be appropriately qualified to decide whether an injury requires acute treatment, otherwise the provider must refer the client to a treatment provider who is. The visit to that treatment provider, on referral, is also regarded as acute treatment.
The treatment provider, who diagnoses the need for acute treatment and admission, must make sure the treatment is provided by:
- a publicly-funded provider, or
- a provider that is not publicly-funded if ACC agrees beforehand or if for reasons for clinical safety, treatment by a publicly-funded provider is not practicable.
X-ray referrals
Complete the radiology practice referral form and enclose a copy of the ACC45. If your patient required acute medical help for their injury, refer them to the nearest public hospital.
MRI referrals
Acute MRIs for ACC clients are provided as part of public health acute services. If your patient requires an urgent MRI, refer them to the nearest DHB MRI facility.
Non-acute MRIs are funded separately by ACC under contract. See High Tech imaging services for information on how to access this service.
Surgery and acute specialist care
Acute specialist and surgical treatment for ACC clients is provided as part of public health acute services. If your patient requires acute surgical or specialist treatment, refer them to the nearest DHB.Elective surgery and specialist treatment is paid for by ACC through both Regulations and contracts.
Last updated: 20 February 2009