Short Description

The Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) is an Australian Government program that assist eligible people who have permanent and severe incontinence to meet some of the costs of incontinence products.

More Details

* CAPS is administered on behalf of the Australian Government by Medicare
* CAPS clients receive an annual payment of up to $489.95 (plus indexation).
* Medicare will deliver the payment directly into the client's nominated bank account, or the account of their authorised legal representative
* Continence products can be ordered through a single provider or multiple providers. Clients may choose to purchase their continence products through the current supplier, Intouch.

Continence items may include disposable and reusable incontinence pads; catheters; incontinence sheets and waterproof seat covers; enemas and suppositories; disposable surgical gloves; urinals and bed pans; sterilising and disinfectant solutions.

Eligibility
A person is eligible for CAPS if they are five years of age or older and meet requirements A or B below and meet the criteria on the CAPS Health Report (Section 2 of the CAPS Application Form):

A.
They have permanent and severe loss of bladder and/or bowel function incontinence) due directly to a neurological condition (for example,
cerebral palsy, spina bifida, paraplegia or multiple sclerosis) or a permanent and severe intellectual impairment.
or

B.
They have permanent and severe loss of bladder and/or bowel function (incontinence) caused by a non neurological condition, for example, autism, cancer, prostate disease or dementia;
AND

They have a Pensioner Concession Card, or if they are under 16 years, their parent/guardian has a Pensioner Concession Card.

What is permanent and severe incontinence?
For the purpose of CAPS, permanent and severe incontinence is defined as the frequent and uncontrollable, moderate to large loss of urine or faeces which impacts on a person's quality of life and that is unlikely to improve with medical, surgical or clinical treatment regimes. This condition is likely to last at least two years, or for the remainder of a person's life.

Assessment
A medical practitioner must certify a person as having a permanent disability and permanent incontinence as part of the application. An assessment of the clients' continence management needs is not required.

Relationship with State Schemes
CAPS does not preclude people who are in receipt of a subsidy from a state scheme. (Some State Schemes explicitly exclude CAPS clients.)

CAPS is administered by the Commonwealth Dept of Health and Aged Care.