{"id":"F2026L00350","name":"Veterans’ Entitlements (Eligibility for Treatment—Improved Access to Treatment for Tinnitus) Determination 2026","slug":"veterans-entitlements-eligibility-for-treatment-improved-access-to-treatment-for-tinnitus-determinat","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":107947,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2026L00350-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name","content":"#### 1 Name\n\n  This instrument is the Veterans’ Entitlements (Eligibility for Treatment—Improved Access to Treatment for Tinnitus) Determination 2026.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"#### 2 Commencement\n\n  This instrument commences on 17 March 2026.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authority","content":"#### 3 Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under section 88A of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 4 Definitions\n\n  In this instrument:\n\n> Act means the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986.\n\n> Commission means the body corporate known as the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission established under section 361 of the MRCA.\n\n> MRCA means the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.\n\n> specified condition means tinnitus, where that condition is defined in a Statement of Principles.\n\n> Statement of Principles means a determination made by the Repatriation Medical Authority, for the purposes of the Act and the MRCA, under subsection 196B(3) of the Act.\n\n5 Specified class of persons\n\nFor paragraphs 88A(1)(a) and (d) of the Act, a person is in a specified class if both of the following apply to that person:\n\n1.  the person has made a claim under paragraph 319(1)(a) of the MRCA, which:\n\n    relates to the specified condition; and\n    has been accepted by the Commission under section 23 of the MRCA;\n\n1.  in addition to making the claim referred to in paragraph (a), the person has made a claim for compensation under paragraph 319(1)(d) of the MRCA, which:\n\n    relates to the specified condition; and\n    has not yet been determined by the Commission.\n\n    Specified kind of treatment\n\nA person in a class specified in section 5 of this instrument is eligible for treatment that is provided by Australian Hearing Services under the Improved Access to Treatment for Tinnitus pilot.","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument does not itself widen or narrow entitlements beyond specifying which people are eligible for tinnitus treatment under the pilot. It uses authority in s.88A of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 to designate a class of persons and ties eligibility to existing MRCA claim outcomes and a Repatriation Medical Authority Statement of Principles; there is no textual indication it changes the underlying statutory scope of entitlements."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-references to multiple statutes and provisions: Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (s.88A) and Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) claim provisions (s.5 referencing MRCA ss.319(1)(a), 319(1)(d) and s.23).","Eligibility logic requires two concurrent claim states (an accepted MRCA claim and a separate pending compensation claim), increasing administrative and factual verification complexity (s.5).","Dependence on defined terms outside the instrument: 'specified condition' relies on a Statement of Principles made by the Repatriation Medical Authority, creating interpretive dependence (s.4).","Operational reliance on an external delivery vehicle—the Improved Access to Treatment for Tinnitus pilot operated by Australian Hearing Services—so implementation details sit outside the instrument (final provision).","Limited length but high connective complexity: the instrument’s effect depends on factual findings and decisions by the Commission and other bodies, not on standalone substantive rules.","Potential compliance and administrative burden for claimants and the Commission to verify claim status and coordinate treatment under the pilot."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument makes a narrow group of veterans eligible to receive tinnitus treatment from Australian Hearing Services under the 'Improved Access to Treatment for Tinnitus' pilot. Eligibility requires an accepted MRCA claim for tinnitus and a separate, still-undetermined MRCA compensation claim for tinnitus (section 5). It commences 17 March 2026 (s.2) and is made under s.88A of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (s.3). The Commission’s prior claim decisions determine who receives treatment; claim verification is required."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: creating a specific eligibility pathway for tinnitus treatment under a pilot program. The scope is narrow and precisely targeted, with no evidence of scope creep or expansion beyond the stated objective of improved access to treatment for this specific condition."},"complexity_factors":["Only 4 defined terms in the interpretation section","Single operative provision (section 5) with two straightforward cumulative conditions","No nested exceptions or conditional logic beyond simple 'and' requirements","Minimal cross-referencing — only references to specific sections of two parent Acts (Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 and Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004)","Extremely short length (6 substantive sections)","Clear linear structure: name, commencement, authority, definitions, eligibility criteria, treatment entitlement"],"plain_english_summary":"This law creates a pilot, \"Improved Access to Treatment for Tinnitus,\" letting current and former Australian Defence Force members (including those with accepted claims or claims still under review) receive free tinnitus treatment through Australian Hearing Services before their compensation claims are finalised. It fast-tracks care so veterans can get help for ringing/buzzing ears sooner, reducing impacts on sleep, concentration and mental health."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/veterans-entitlements-eligibility-for-treatment-improved-access-to-treatment-for-tinnitus-determinat","history":"/api/acts/veterans-entitlements-eligibility-for-treatment-improved-access-to-treatment-for-tinnitus-determinat/history","analysis":"/api/acts/veterans-entitlements-eligibility-for-treatment-improved-access-to-treatment-for-tinnitus-determinat/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/veterans-entitlements-eligibility-for-treatment-improved-access-to-treatment-for-tinnitus-determinat/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/veterans-entitlements-eligibility-for-treatment-improved-access-to-treatment-for-tinnitus-determinat/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/veterans-entitlements-eligibility-for-treatment-improved-access-to-treatment-for-tinnitus-determinat/documents"}}