Neuropsychological assessments for TAC claims in Victoria

After a car, motorbike, bike or public transport accident, some people notice changes in memory, concentration, mood or energy. A TAC neuropsychological assessment looks carefully at how your thinking skills are working and what that means for daily life, work and study.

This guide explains how neuropsychology fits with a Transport Accident Commission (TAC) claim in Victoria, what the TAC usually needs before it will pay, and how a treating assessment differs from the independent examinations the TAC arranges.

What the TAC covers after a transport accident

The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) is Victoria’s no-fault insurer for people injured in transport accidents. It can pay for reasonable treatment and support for injuries caused by the accident, including mental health and brain injuries.

The TAC’s mental health and wellbeing services include psychology, psychiatry and neuropsychology. A neuropsychologist is a psychologist with further training in how the brain affects thinking, behaviour and emotion.

When a neuropsychological assessment may help

Many people recover well after a mild head injury. Healthdirect notes that most adults with concussion get better on their own within about 2 weeks. Others have problems that last longer, or have a more serious brain injury that needs detailed assessment.

Your doctor or rehabilitation team may suggest an assessment if you notice:

• forgetting conversations, appointments or where you put things
• trouble concentrating, following a TV show or reading
• slower thinking, or feeling overloaded in busy places
• difficulty planning, organising or making decisions
• changes in mood, irritability or confidence
• mental fatigue that makes it hard to get through a work or school day

An assessment can help answer practical questions. For example, is it safe to return to work yet? What supports would help at home? Are the problems mostly due to the brain injury, to pain and poor sleep, to low mood or anxiety, or to a mix? The answer matters, because each cause points to different treatment.

How TAC funding for neuropsychology works

The TAC’s psychology and neuropsychology policy sets out the main rules. In summary:

• Referral: the TAC pays for these services when a medical practitioner, such as your GP or specialist, refers you.
• First 90 days: the TAC can pay for up to six sessions of psychology or neuropsychology in the first 90 days after the accident without the provider contacting the TAC for approval first.
• After 90 days: the provider needs TAC approval before funded treatment starts. Approval is also needed if it has been more than 6 months since your last TAC-funded treatment.
• Who can provide it: neuropsychology must be provided by a psychologist with AHPRA endorsement as a clinical neuropsychologist.
• Fees: the TAC pays according to its fee schedule. If a provider charges more, you may have a gap to pay.

A comprehensive neuropsychological assessment usually takes several hours, so ask your provider how it will be requested and funded under your claim before the appointment.

What happens during the assessment

A neuropsychological assessment usually has three parts.

Interview

The neuropsychologist asks about the accident, your injuries, your recovery so far, your health history, education and work. With your consent, they may also speak with a family member who knows you well, and read hospital and rehabilitation records.

Testing

You complete a range of standardised tasks with pen and paper, blocks, pictures or a computer. These measure memory, attention, language, visual skills, speed of thinking and problem-solving. Your results are compared with people of a similar age. Short breaks are normal, and the test day can be split if fatigue is a problem.

Getting ready

A little preparation makes the day easier and the results more accurate:

• try to sleep well the night before and eat before you arrive
• bring your glasses or hearing aids, and a list of your medicines
• bring your TAC claim number and any referral letter
• bring copies of hospital discharge summaries or earlier reports if you have them
• tell the clinician if you are in pain or very tired, so breaks can be planned

You do not need to study or practise. The tasks are designed so that nobody gets everything right. What matters is that you try your hardest, because the results are only useful if they show what you can really do.

Feedback and report

The neuropsychologist explains what the results mean, including your strengths. The report usually includes practical recommendations, such as memory strategies, pacing, a graded return to work or study, or referral for cognitive rehabilitation or counselling. With your consent, a copy can go to your GP and treating team so everyone works from the same information.

Treating assessments and independent examinations

It helps to know the difference between an assessment that supports your recovery and an examination that the TAC arranges to make a decision about your claim.

Treating assessments

A treating neuropsychologist works with you and your doctors to guide rehabilitation. The focus is on diagnosis, understanding the problems and planning support.

Independent examinations

The TAC also arranges independent medical examinations with health professionals it approves. The reports are used to make decisions about your claim. Examples include:

• Impairment benefits: a one-off lump sum if you have permanent impairment from the accident. The TAC says a degree of permanent impairment of 11% or more is needed. The impairment assessment is done by independent doctors trained in the relevant guides, not your own treating doctor.
• Serious injury and common law: to claim common law damages, you need a serious injury and someone else must be at least partly at fault. Serious injury can be shown by a permanent impairment of 30% or more, or by the “narrative” test. The narrative test includes categories such as serious long-term impairment of a body function and severe long-term mental or behavioural disturbance.

A lawyer may also ask for an independent neuropsychological opinion for a common law claim. Our guide to independent medical examinations explains what these appointments involve.

Compensation rules are complex and depend on your accident and injuries. This article is general information and is not legal advice. Speak with a lawyer or the TAC about your claim, and with a qualified health professional about your symptoms.

How Invictus Health can help

Invictus Health provides neuropsychological assessments for adults and children, and medico-legal assessments when a lawyer or insurer needs an independent opinion. Our head office is in Preston, and we have assessment clinics in Victoria and several other states.

You can book most assessments without a GP referral. For TAC funding, you will still need a referral from a medical practitioner and, outside the first 90 days, TAC approval. Neuropsychology reports are reviewed by Dr Judy Tang OAM, clinical neuropsychologist. Our fees page explains costs, or contact us to check what applies to your claim.

If an accident has affected your mood, our psychologists and counsellors also offer counselling. If you are in danger, call 000. For 24-hour crisis support call Lifeline on 13 11 14.