Month: May 2016

Media release – Friday 13 May, 2016

Leading Age Services Australia (LASA), the voice of aged care, says closer analysis of the Budget cuts to aged care show an additional $350 million will be removed from care services than the Government has projected, resulting in more than $2 billion in cuts expected over the next four years.

“We are appalled that the Government and Department have downplayed the total amount they are ripping from aged care services through changes to ACFI,” LASA spokesperson Beth Cameron said.

“Independent analysis by Ansell Strategic, commissioned by LASA for its members, has found that the changes to ACFI will see cuts of almost $350 million more than initially thought. Coupled with the reduction of $607 million announced last December, aged care providers will have to find about $2 billion from other sources to make up the shortfall and remain viable,” she said.

Read more:

Media release – Budget cuts to aged care $350 million more than Gov admitted
Ansell Strategic – “In a nutshell” The impact of budget cuts to aged care #2 – Budget Cuts Understated and Misdirected (.pdf)

The Department of Health has released a new edition of its ‘Information for Aged Care Providers’ newsletter.

Read more:

Information for Aged Care Providers – Issue #2016/8 (.pdf)

In the 2016–17 Budget it was outlined there will be changes to residential care funding arrangements. The changes will be implemented in two stages.

Part A – Changes effective from 1 July 2016
– Half indexation of CHC domain in 2016–17
– Changes to certain scores in the CHC scoring matrix from 1 July 2016 to 31 December 2016 – for new appraisals or reappraisals of existing residents

Part B – Changes effective from 1 January 2017
– New redesigned CHC scoring matrix from 1 January 2017.
– Changes to scores and eligibility requirements for certain Complex Health Care procedures in Question 12 of ACFI

Read more:

Changes to residential aged care funding arrangements (.pdf)

Aged Care Peak Bodies Respond to 2016-17 Federal Budget.

LASA – Media release – Devastating cuts to direct aged care services continue

ACSA National Report – Budget Media Release – 3 May 2016

On Tuesday 3rd May Treasurer Scott Morrison handed down the 2016-17 Federal Budget.

ICYMI: Below are many links to different media releases, articles, facts and figures on the budget.

Department of Health & Health Minister:

MEDIA RELEASE: Budget puts patient outcomes at centre of health reform

My Aged Care – consumer access

Aged care provider funding – improving the targeting of the viability supplement for regional aged care facilities

Aged care – extending funding for unannounced compliance site visits to aged care providers

Aged care provider funding – further revision of the Aged Care Funding Instrument

Changes to the Viability Supplement

Changes to residential aged care funding arrangements

Australian Government 2016-17 Health Portfolio Budget Statements

Health Portfolio Overview

Department Outcomes – 6: Ageing and Aged Care