The following information further clarifies the department’s 16 December 2016 article on Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) Question 12.4 in Issue #24 of the Information for Aged Care Providers newsletter.

As per the ACFI User Guide 2017:

• The evidence requirements for Complex Pain Management ACFI 12.4a claims include a directive given by a registered nurse or medical practitioner or allied health professional, as well as an evidence based pain assessment.
• The evidence requirements for Complex Pain Management ACFI 12.4b claims include a directive given by a medical practitioner or allied health professional, as well as an evidence based pain assessment.
• Under question 12.4a and 12.4b, it is permissible for the treatment to be undertaken by a different health professional than the one who gave the directive, noting that for question 12.4a the different health professional is limited, to an allied health professional or registered nurse, and for question 12.4b, an allied health professional only. Health professionals undertaking these treatments must be operating within their scope of practice and comply with the registration and/or accreditation requirements outlined on pages 38 to 39 of the ACFI User Guide 2017.