Month: April 2017

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 #2017/07 (.pdf)

Younger people currently accessing residential care or home care services may be eligible for support through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The NDIS is rolling out in stages across Australia, and will be available nationally by the end of 2019.

If you have a younger person in your residential care or home care services, now is the time to familiarise yourself with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

Read more:

Can you help younger people in your service transition to the NDIS?

Younger people in aged care

The Manad Plus Help Desk will be open on Anzac Day (Tuesday 25th April).

Please email support@manad.com.au or call 1300 MANAD2 (1300 62 62 32) if you require support.

Remember to always use the self-help tools for assistance too. If using version 5, go to: Help > Help Centre. If using version 4, go to: User Options > Tip Sheets.

NOTE: the Management Advantage Office will be closed, but will re-open on Wednesday 26th April.

Released: 19 April 2017

The Turnbull Government is continuing to explore options to strengthen the way residential aged care funding is determined.

Releasing the report Alternative Aged Care Assessment, Classification System and Funding Models the Federal Minister for Aged Care, Ken Wyatt, said that the Australian Government contributes around $17.5 billion a year to aged care.

“By 2019-20, that’s expected to be just under $21 billion,” Minister Wyatt said.

“It’s important that we review the way we fund aged care to ensure we create an aged care system that is affordable, sustainable, flexible and responsive to consumers.

“In 2015–16, more than 1.3 million older people received some form of aged care and with more Australians living longer and healthier lives, those numbers will increase.

“To meet the level of demand for aged care services now and into the future the Australian Government needs to make sure its funding gives the best possible value for money.”

Read more:

Strengthening Residential Aged Care Funding (.pdf)

 

The department engaged the University of Wollongong to develop options and recommendations to help inform the design of future residential aged care funding models. No decisions on options have been made.

The government will consult with the aged care sector on the recommendations of this report over coming months.

The University’s report – Alternative Aged Care Assessment, Classification Systems and Funding Models – is available on the department’s website.

Read more:

University of Wollongong report on funding reform now available

Alternative Aged Care Assessment, Classification System and Funding Models Final Report Vol. 1 (.pdf)

Alternative Aged Care Assessment, Classification System and Funding Models Final Report Vol. 2 (.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 #2017/06 (.pdf)

When is an ACAT assessment needed?

An Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) assessment is required if the care recipient needs aged care that is subsidised by the Australian Government:

• residential care;

• flexible care in the form of transition care or short-term restorative care;

• residential respite care;

• home care.

Read more:

Reminder to providers: checking for valid approval

Residential aged care providers do not have a separate allocation of residential respite places. Rather, a number of residential care places are used to provide residential respite.

To change the number of respite care days a service can provide, providers need to contact their state or territory office:

• call 1800 020 103 and ask to speak with a departmental officer in aged care in their relevant state or territory; or

• email the relevant state or territory department.

NSW/ACT – NSWplaces@health.gov.au

QLD – QLDplaces@health.gov.au

Vic – VICplaces@health.gov.au

Tas – TASplaces@health.gov.au

SA – SAplaces@health.gov.au

WA – WAplaces@health.gov.au

NT – NTplaces@health.gov.au

Read more:

How to change your respite days

The Australian Aged Care Quality Agency has released the April 2017 issue of their ‘Quality Standard’ newsletter.

Read more:

Quality Standard – April 2017 (.pdf)

Australian Aged Care Quality Agency