On 2 August, the Australian Government passed the Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response) Bill 2022. The first legislation to pass in the new Parliament, the Bill implements nine measures to improve aged care and responds to 17 recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
The Bill establishes the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN ACC) funding model, a new Code of Conduct and banning orders, and extends the Serious Incident Response Scheme to all in-home care providers. It also extends the functions of the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority, which will lead to better price-setting for aged care.
Other measures enshrine transparency and accountability of approved providers, and improve quality of care and safety for older Australians receiving aged care services.
A second piece of aged care legislation, the Aged Care Amendment (Implementing Care Reform) Bill 2022, was introduced on 27 July and is before the House of Representatives.
Read more:
Aged Care Alert: Passage of aged care legislation
Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response) Bill 2022