MASS Expansion Project

Expanding Access to Life-Changing Assistive Technology in Queensland

Queensland Health is launching an exciting pilot expansion of the Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme (MASS) to improve access to essential assistive technology (AT) for some of the state’s most vulnerable residents. This innovative project will run until June 2025, aiming to bridge service gaps, reduce waiting times, and improve the quality of life for those in need.

The pilot expansion will provide enhanced support to four key consumer groups:

  1. Patients Needing Assistive Technology for Safe Discharge Home
    • Providing timely AT to a wider group of hospital inpatients to support a safe and efficient transition from hospital to home.
  2. Disability and Refugee Health Communities
    • Expanding eligibility to include people with disabilities and refugees who currently face barriers in accessing Assistive Technology.
  3. Palliative Care Equipment Users
    • Supplying essential Assistive Technology to individuals receiving end-of-life care, expanding the current MASS eligibility, ensuring comfort and dignity.
  4. Spinal Cord Injury Patients Outside the PAH Spinal Injury Unit
    • Addressing the AT needs of Spinal Cord Injury patients not covered by the PAH Spinal Injury Unit.

These initiatives aim to reduce waiting times, expand eligibility, provide equitable access and enhance access for rural and remote communities. By addressing these challenges, MASS will empower individuals to live more independently, reduce hospital length of stays, and improve overall well-being.

MASS Expansion Project Temporary Administrative and Clinical Guidelines

A downloadable version of the guidelines is available. (PDF 267 kB)

The MASS Expansion pilot project will cease on 30 June 2025.
The current project funding has not been extended.

Application Deadline – 2 May 2025:

All MASS Expansion applications need to be submitted, via the MASS-eApply portal, by Friday 2 May 2025
No applications received after this date will be considered for MASS Expansion funding.

Due to timeline restrictions to finalise the project, MASS Expansion applications can only be considered for applications that meet the following:

  • MASS SOA products,
  • Non-MASS SOA products on the approved MASS Expansion list, and
  • Assistive technology where delivery and submission of MASS 70 Acquittal form (PDF 726 kB) can be completed by Friday 30 May 2025.

Hire Equipment through MASS Expansion project:

A transition plan will need to be in place by Monday 2 June 2025 for any clients that have been provided hire equipment through MASS Expansion.

For further information or feedback contact:

  • Goal:

    To provide hire or permanent loan of a defined range of assistive technology for clients with a permanent and stabilised condition or disability, which impairs their ability to function independently in their home environment.

    Administrative Eligibility:

    The applicant must be a permanent Queensland Resident and meet one of the following criteria:

    • Hold a Medicare Card
    • Non-Australian Citizen (Refugee and Asylum Seekers, New Zealand Citizens)

    Visa status other than Refugee and Asylum Seeker or New Zealand - will require review and consideration by MASS.

    For the purposes of the MASS Expansion Project, persons with disabilities may be accepted if they are:

    • Clients who are in receipt of a Home Care Package level 3-4
    • Clients who are in the process of applying for, or have been rejected by, the NDIS.

    Clinical Eligibility:

    • Permanent and stabilised condition or disability, which impairs their ability to function independently in their home environment and the assistive technology is required to support them to remain at home.
    • MASS does not provide subsidy funding for assistive technology that is needed solely for community access, or for short-term post-acute care, or for therapy or rehabilitation programs.

    Ineligible:

    • Persons eligible for support through Workcover and National Injury Insurance Scheme Queensland (NIISQ).
    • DVA clients (Gold card holders)

    Process:

    • Complete MASS-eApply form – Daily Living Aids and Mobility Equipment/Short Form or Continence Application
    • Must be reviewed and approved by MASS as meeting the administrative and clinical eligibility criteria.
    • For clients under 65 years of age - a rejection letter from NDIS or supporting documentation confirming awaiting NDIS access is required.
    • Clients considered for hire of assistive technology will need to have community follow-up and sign Acknowledgement of Obligations form (PDF 718 kB) in relation to return of hire equipment.

    Assistive Technology:

    Included:

    Non-SOA products will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must meet relevant Australian standards.

    Products over the primary MASS Subsidy may be considered.

    The assistive technology will be provided on a permanent loan or hire basis at the discretion of MASS.

    Excluded:

    • Communication Aids
    • Spectacle Supply Scheme and Specialised Services
    • Orthoses
    • Queensland Artificial Limbs Service
    • Medical Grade Footwear
    • Oxygen

  • Goal:

    To provide hire or purchase of a defined range of assistive technology for clients with a permanent and stabilised condition or disability which impairs their ability to function independently in their home environment.

    Administrative Eligibility:

    The applicant must be a permanent Queensland Resident and must hold a refugee or asylum seeker visa.

    Visa status other than Refugee and Asylum Seeker - will require review and consideration by MASS.

    Clinical Eligibility:

    • Permanent and stabilised condition or disability, which impairs their ability to function independently in their home environment and the assistive technology is required to support them to remain at home.
    • MASS does not provide subsidy funding for assistive technology that is needed solely for community access, or for short-term post-acute care, or for therapy or rehabilitation programs.

    Ineligible:

    Persons eligible for support through Workcover and NIISQ.

    Process:

    • Complete MASS-eApply form – Daily Living Aids and Mobility Equipment/Short Form or Continence Application.
    • Must be reviewed and approved by MASS as meeting the administration and clinical eligibility criteria.
    • Clients considered for hire of assistive technology will need to have community follow-up and sign Acknowledgement of Obligations form (PDF 718 kB) in relation to return of hire equipment.

    Assistive Technology:

    Included:

    Non-SOA products will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must meet relevant Australian standards.

    Products over the primary MASS Subsidy may be considered.

    The assistive technology will be provided on a permanent loan or hire basis at the discretion of MASS.

    Excluded:

    • Communication Aids
    • Spectacle Supply Scheme and Specialised Services
    • Orthoses
    • Queensland Artificial Limbs Service
    • Medical Grade Footwear
    • Oxygen

  • Goal:

    To expand current PCEP clinical eligibility to include clients with a NDIS eligible condition or a refugee or asylum seeker. Funding may cease on June 30, 2025.

    Administrative Eligibility:

    The applicant must be a permanent Queensland Resident, with a Queensland delivery address and meet the following criteria:

    Clinical Eligibility:

    A life limiting condition with a likely prognosis of six (6) months or less diagnosed by a palliative care specialist or treating specialist/GP with palliative care specialist consultation.

    Resource Utilisation Group – Activities of Daily Living (RUG-ADL) and Australian-modified Karnofsky Performance Scale (AKPS) scores as per Guidelines for Palliative Care Equipment Program.

    Applicants may have a NDIS eligible condition e.g. GBM, Motor Neurone Disease or be a palliative Refugee or Asylum Seeker

    Ineligible:

    As per MASS PCEP Guidelines (PDF 545 kB), unless otherwise stated.

    Process:

    • Complete MASS-eApply form – Palliative Care Equipment or Palliative Care Continence Aids
    • Must be reviewed and approved by MASS as meeting the administration and clinical eligibility criteria.

    Assistive Technology:

    Included:

    Excluded:

    • Communication Aids
    • Spectacle Supply Scheme and Specialised Services
    • Orthoses
    • Queensland Artificial Limbs Service
    • Medical Grade Footwear

    Transition off PCEP:

    A NDIS client will be transitioned off PCEP funding when their NDIS plan has commenced, and a plan has been established to transfer funding.

  • Goal:

    To expand current SCIR processes to include people with a spinal cord injury receiving treatment outside of the Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) Spinal Injury Unit (SIU). Utilise the current SCIR Guidelines (2019) and subsidy funding thus allowing local prescribers to complete applications for people with a spinal cord injury.

    Administrative Eligibility:

    The applicant must be a permanent Queensland Resident and meet the following criteria:

    • Hold a Medicare Card or be a Refugee or Asylum Seeker (Medicare card not required)
    • Be aged sixty-five (65) years old or older.
    • And be inpatient in or recently discharged (within 3 months) from a Queensland Health facility.

    Clinical Eligibility:

    • New Spinal Cord Injury applicant accepted with QSCIS and engaged with QuickStart/NQSCIS.
    • Not requiring ventilatory support

    Ineligible:

    Those receiving compensation through schemes such as Workcover, Compulsory Third-Party Insurance or NIISQ.

    Process:

    • Send Functional Status Report/SCIR Equipment Application and quotes to MASS-Projects@health.qld.gov.au
    • Must be reviewed and approved by MASS as meeting the administrative and clinical eligibility criteria.
    • SCIR Flow chart to guide prescriber process.

    Assistive Technology:

    • One-off funding
    • Assistive technology can be provided as per the current SCIR guidelines under a permanent loan arrangement.
    • Eligibility for funding under the SCIR New Injury Equipment Program continues for a period of 3 months following discharge.

    Included:

    • Daily Living Aids
    • Mobility Aids
    • Emergency Call System
    • Air conditioning

    Excluded:

    • Continence Aids
    • Communication Aids
    • Spectacle Supply Scheme and Specialised Services
    • Orthoses
    • Queensland Artificial Limbs Service
    • Medical Grade Footwear
    • Oxygen
    • Palliative Care Equipment Program
    • Palliative Care Syringe Driver Program

    Hire of equipment is excluded under SCIR guidelines.

  • Goal:

    To expedite hospital discharge and prevent avoidable hospital readmissions by providing paediatric and adult patients with essential assistive technology (AT).

    Administrative Eligibility:

    The applicant must be a permanent Queensland Resident, be a current inpatient within a Queensland Health facility and meet one of the following criteria:

    • Hold a Medicare Card
    • Non-Australian Citizen (Refugee and Asylum Seekers, New Zealand Citizens)

    Visa status other than Refugee and Asylum Seeker or New Zealand - will require review and consideration by MASS.

    For the purposes of the MASS Expansion Project, persons with disabilities may be accepted if they are:

    • Clients who are in receipt of a Home Care Package level 3-4
    • Clients who are in the process of applying for, or have been rejected by, the NDIS.

    Clinical Eligibility:

    • Assistive technology needed to facilitate safe discharge home.
    • Permanent disability/diagnosis that affects their function to the extent that they need assistive technology immediately on discharge.
    • Classified as Long-Stay patient (i.e., medically ready for discharge but unable to be discharged due to assistive technology needs)

    Ineligible:

    • Persons eligible for support through Workcover and NIISQ.
    • DVA clients (Gold card holders)

    Process:

    • Complete MASS-eApply form – Daily Living Aids and Mobility Equipment/Short Form
    • Applications (for non-pilot H2DAT sites/and for non-basic assistive technology at pilot H2DAT sites) must be reviewed and approved by MASS as meeting the administrative and clinical eligibility criteria.
    • Clients considered for hire of AT for discharge will need to have community follow-up and sign Acknowledgement of Obligations form (PDF 718 kB) in relation to return of hire equipment.

    Assistive Technology:

    Included:

    Non-SOA products will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must meet relevant Australian standards.

    Products over the primary MASS subsidy may be considered.

    The assistive technology will be provided on a permanent loan or hire basis at the discretion of MASS.

    Excluded:

    • Continence Aids
    • Communication Aids
    • Spectacle Supply Scheme and Specialised Services
    • Orthoses
    • Queensland Artificial Limbs Service
    • Medical Grade Footwear
    • Oxygen
    • Palliative Care Syringe Driver Program.

Last updated: 16 April 2025