HCF No-Gap Joints program

Under the HCF No-Gap Joints program, patients eligible under their HCF cover and who have been accepted into the program by the participating orthopaedic surgeon and hospital will be able to access treatment at Vermont Private Hospital, and be assured there will be no out-of-pocket costs from admission through to post-surgery rehabilitation*.

*Hospital excesses payable if applicable. Excludes HCF Overseas Visitors Health Cover.

The program allows you to undergo your rehabilitation at home after your surgery, supported by an in-home rehabilitation program, if this is clinically appropriate. Otherwise you will be supported by an in-clinic rehabilitation program.

With the right support in place, research has shown that patients have better outcomes and a better experience when they recover in the comfort of their own home. New surgical and anaesthetic techniques for joint replacement surgery mean that you can be back on your feet and back to doing the things you love faster, often being discharged from hospital the day after surgery. During your assessment, your surgeon will determine whether you are clinically suitable for this model of care.

Your surgeon will discuss whether you are clinically suitable for the HCF No-Gap Joints program. You will need to have held HCF hospital cover that includes primary hip and knee replacement for at least 12 months, and deemed to be clinically suitable by the participating orthopaedic surgeon and hospital^.

^Your treating surgeon must be participating in the program and will work with you to decide if this program is right for you.

If you’re an HCF member you can log in to the My Membership app or online member services via the button below, to see if your policy includes hip and knee replacements, and if you have held the policy for at least 12 months.

If you’re not sure or want to check you meet the eligiblity criteria for this program, get in touch with HCF by calling 13 13 14, contacting them by email, or visiting your local HCF branch.

Please click on the buttons below to find out more about surgeons participating in the HCF No-Gap Joints program.

You can also contact our hospital anytime on 03 8547 1111 for more information on participating surgeons.

As part of the HCF No-Gap Joints program, participating HCF members will be invited to attend a pre-admission assessment, sometimes known as ‘joint school’.

During this visit Vermont Private Hospital nurses will:

• Conduct a full clinical health assessment and liaise with the surgeon and anaesthetist to plan your surgery.
• Review all of your blood tests and x-rays.
• Discuss the sort of support services you may need when you are discharged to your home.
• Help you to organise any equipment you may need to assist with your recovery.
• Answer any questions you may have about your stay.

A physiotherapist will also meet with you to discuss what you will need in your home after surgery,

There may be an initial consultation fee associated with your surgeon of choice, some of which will be reclaimable through Medicare. You can contact your surgeon’s rooms to find out the cost of this.

You will also be required to cover the expenses of medications required after discharge.

There are no out-of-pocket cost for services provided during your hospital stay and post-surgery rehabilitation, which includes:

• Pre-admission joint school
• Hospital accommodation and theatre costs
• Surgeon surgical fee
• Anaesthetist surgical fee
• Surgical assistant surgical fee
• Prosthesis, or artificial joint
• Inpatient diagnostic tests
• An in-home, or in-clinic rehabilitation program delivered by a physiotherapist following your joint replacement surgery.

Eligible members will need to have HCF hospital cover that includes primary hip and knee replacements for 12 months (excluding Overseas Visitors Health Cover)^. Members will be accepted into the program in line with clinical criteria by the participating clinician and hospital on a patient-by-patient basis. Excludes any policy excess payable.

^Your treating surgeon must be participating in the program and will work with you to decide if this program is right for you.

Once your surgeon has decided that you are suitable for the HCF No-Gap Joints program, they will arrange a date for your surgery. The hospital will then contact you to arrange a pre-admission assessment where our nurses and physiotherapists will:

• Conduct a full clinical health assessment and liaise with the surgeon and anaesthetist to plan your surgery.
• Review all of your blood tests and x-rays.
• Discuss the sort of support services you may need when you are discharged to your home.
• Help you to organise any equipment you may need to assist with your recovery.
• Answer any questions you may have about your stay.

For more information, you can speak to one of the Vermont Private Hospital dedicated Patient Co-ordinators.

Our friendly Patient Co-ordinators will be able to tell you more about the program, the care you will receive, and what costs, if any, are involved. They will also be able to provide you with an introduction to one of our participating surgeons if you need.

Together with our physiotherapy team, we run patient information sessions to explain more about the care you will receive and what costs, if any, are involved.

Speak to one of our friendly Patient Co-ordinators to find out more.