Can physiotherapy and chiropractic be paid with the Elderly Health Care Voucher? Notes and the referral arrangement
With the Elderly Health Care Voucher: chiropractors are eligible, and the Government's healthcare-provider page attaches no note to them; physiotherapists and occupational therapists are also eligible, but the provider must be listed in the Primary Care Directory and the service "must follow the current referral arrangement"; optometrists are eligible only if in Part I of the register. The voucher page itself does not define "the current referral arrangement".
Which allied health professionals can use the Elderly Health Care Voucher?
The Elderly Health Care Voucher subsidises elderly persons' use of private primary healthcare. Among the relevant allied health professions, chiropractors are eligible and the Government's page attaches no note to them and lists no referral condition (see Do you need a referral to see a chiropractor); physiotherapists and occupational therapists are also eligible, but the Government's page sets extra conditions for them; optometrists are limited to Part I of the register. For the voucher amount, eligibility and how to check your balance, see How to use the Elderly Health Care Voucher.
| Profession | Can use the Elderly Health Care Voucher | Condition on the Government's page |
|---|---|---|
| Chiropractor | Yes | No referral condition listed on the page |
| Physiotherapist | Yes | Must be listed in the Primary Care Directory; service "must follow the current referral arrangement" |
| Occupational therapist | Yes | Must be listed in the Primary Care Directory; service "must follow the current referral arrangement" |
| Optometrist | Yes | Only registered optometrists in Part I of the register |
What conditions does the Government's page set for physiotherapists?
The Government's page sets extra conditions for physiotherapists and occupational therapists. First, from 6 December 2023, medical practitioners not yet listed in the Primary Care Directory can no longer join the voucher scheme; this was extended to dentists from 1 March 2025, and to occupational therapists and physiotherapists from 2 September 2025 (Elderly Health Care Voucher provider page).
Second, services provided by allied health professionals, and laboratory test services, "must follow the current referral arrangement" (Elderly Health Care Voucher provider page). This line is not explained further on the voucher page.
Note: the commencement dates of the directory requirement differ between the voucher-scheme page and the Primary Care Directory FAQ; this guide follows the dates on the voucher-scheme page.
What exactly is "the current referral arrangement"?
For the Elderly Health Care Voucher, no Government web page defines the exact scope of "the current referral arrangement". The most relevant statutory requirement is the physiotherapy referral rule — the only eligible referrers are a registered medical practitioner or a registered Chinese medicine practitioner, with exceptions where no referral is needed; see Does seeing a physiotherapist need a doctor's referral. For the voucher itself, follow the voucher page and the provider's own instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a referral to use the voucher for a chiropractor?
The voucher page does not state a referral condition for chiropractors. The Government's healthcare-provider page lists chiropractors with no referral or other condition attached, and it does not say whether a chiropractor needs a referral.
What conditions apply when a physiotherapist takes the voucher?
The provider must be listed in the Primary Care Directory (applied to occupational therapists and physiotherapists from 2 September 2025), and the service "must follow the current referral arrangement"; the voucher page does not define this arrangement further.