The Life Support Equipment Electricity Subsidy scheme, which was introduced on 1 January 2005, aims to compensate financially disadvantaged persons for the electricity costs of operating life support equipment at home. People will be eligible for the scheme if they are dependent on life support equipment in their home and they (or their parent/guardian/primary carer) also hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Health Care Interim Voucher.
The annual subsidy payments will be:
| Specified Life Support Equipment | Annual subsidy for next anniversary date from 1 July 2010 onwards |
| Machine-assisted pretoneal dialysis equipment |
$68 |
| Heart Pumps |
$288 |
| Oxygen concentrators (standard capacity - adult) |
$611 |
| Oxygen concentrators (high-capacity Newlife Intensity - adult) |
$882 |
| Oxygen concentrators (standard capacity - child) |
$915 |
| Ventilators (VPAP or BPAP only) |
$320 |
| Feeding pumps |
$109 |
| Suction pumps |
$146 |
| Apnoea monitors (child only) |
$183 |
| Nebulisers (child only - used every day for 1-2 hours) |
$35 |
More information on the scheme and application forms are available on the website of Department of Finance, State Revenue, or phone (08) 9262 1373 between 8:00am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday.