QALS Funding Limits

Repairs and Maintenance

QALS accepts responsibility for the funding costs towards the following:

  • ongoing reasonable repairs and maintenance to a prosthetic limb and standard components that are outside the warranty periods;
  • annual reviews and maintenance, until the prosthesis is replaced/expired, the client is deemed no longer suitable for prosthetic use or as advised by QALS in writing.
  • An additional once off 1-hour initial consultation for definitive clients to discuss their prosthetic needs with their new PSP (once per client, not per amputation) is funded through QALS.

Assistance requests for consultations, or appointments for non-QALS funded services (e.g. appointments regarding client’s self-funded recreational prosthesis, osseointegration surgery) will not be approved.

Important Information regarding Repairs and Maintenance:

  • Clients are prohibited from making changes, alterations and/or repairs which in any way could affect the function of their prosthesis. QALS will not fund any service resulting from a person tampering with the prosthesis or components, nor will it assume any responsibility for any outcome arising from the use of a prosthesis that has been tampered by a client.
  • Items that are broken outside of standard wear-and-tear; are lost; or are stolen will require a statutory declaration and/or police report to be submitted with the application of a replacement item or repairs.
  • Repeated socket replacements due to a client’s medical condition (swelling or ulceration) will require medical intervention and provision of a CPC to QALS before repairs or replacements can be funded.
  • QALS does not fund replacements/repairs for previously replaced or expired items. It is the PSP's responsibility to to scan and check registered identification number against the prosthesis present to ensure it is the client’s current prosthesis before commencing any work on the prosthetic limb. QALS will not pay for any repairs conducted on prosthesis that has been completed for an expired item.

Warranty

Warranty on PSP workmanship and quality of product and components applies to all prosthetic services.

  • Socket warranty has minimum 3 months on fit and minimum 12 months on socket integrity.
  • Components are as per the manufacturers’ specifications for both ‘warranty’ and ‘expected period-of-use’ for each specific item.
  • Repairs or replacements to items within the warranty period may not be funded by QALS.
    • Broken or damaged components will require investigation by the Prosthetist as to the cause of malfunction with the component.
    • Where a component has failed within the manufacturer’s warranty period, the PSP must have the item replaced under warranty. PSPs are required to advise QALS where they reasonably believe that a person has misused their prosthesis contrary to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
    • Repeated repairs to a new prosthesis, socket replacements or major components in the first 12 months of use will require justification as to the reason for replacement and/or if the components failed to meet the warranty period or expected periods of use guidelines.

All items are expected to last the warranty period. When a warranty period is not identified by the manufacturer or supplier it has an implied minimum 6-month warranty period. QALS will only fund replacements or new components that are outside the warranty period.

Other

QALS does not fund:

  • Retrospective funding for prosthetics or associated service, consumables/supplies that have not been approved by QALS
  • Express, same-day or over-night shipping and courier costs
  • Financial assistance for travel, transport or parking to attend a PSP or Amputee Clinic, or for PSPs to visit an applicant’s residence, nursing home, corrective service
  • Consumables, repairs, maintenance, socket and/or component replacements for limb types not funded by QALS (e.g. Interim, secondary, spare or emergency, cosmetic, occupational or recreational limbs)
  • medical procedures/surgeries or medical consumables relating to amputation or osseointegration
  • Education and further training. This is to be conducted through a hospital service.

Last updated: 31 October 2023