Author: Jesse

Further to the updated guidance released in yesterday’s edition of the Protecting Older Australians newsletter, the following resources have been updated to further support the aged care sector.

Providers are encouraged to read these resources and familiarise themselves with the key changes as outlined below. Please also share these resources with your colleagues and networks.

• Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) COVID-19 Outbreaks in Residential Care Facilities
• First 24 hours checklist

Read more:

Updated guidance to support the aged care sector

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission new and updated resources.

Read more:

Aged care advocacy – fact sheet (.pdf)

Psychotropic self-assessment tool (.docx)

Psychotropic self-assessment tool – frequently asked questions (.pdf)

Senior Australians in residential aged care will have greater access to visitors and reduced lockdowns under new visitation guidelines response to the pandemic.

The Australian Government recognises the serious impact of social isolation on residents due to the strict requirements to manage the risk of COVID-19.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt and Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck welcomed the new advice, which has been endorsed by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) and National Cabinet.

“The new advice will enable aged care providers to take a more flexible approach to visitation, and a more proportionate approach to locking down of facilities following an exposure or in the event of an outbreak,” Minister Hunt said.

Read more:

New visitation guidelines for aged care residents

Interim Guidance on managing public health restrictions on residential aged care facilities (.pdf)

Interim Guidance on managing workforce in regards to COVID-19 in aged care (.pdf)

COVID-19 in Residential Aged Care Facilities: Managing your workforce affected by Omicron (.pdf)

In light of the rapidly evolving coronavirus situation, the Victorian Government has developed a weekly survey for clinical facilities including Health Services and Aged Care facilities to understand current volumes of clinical waste stored on site and waste management constraints.

We would highly encourage you to take the time to complete this survey as it provides valuable information to assist in the ongoing response to the pandemic.

Read more:

VIC RACFs: Waste management – Survey and updated advice

Clinical Waste Backlog Survey

We’re renewing all PKI site certificates for Medicare and PBS.

We’ve automatically renewed most PKI site certificates.

Where automatic renewal wasn’t possible, we mailed a CD with the renewed certificate to healthcare locations. We sent most of the CDs in mid-2021 to the last known Certificate Manager registered in our system.

Read more:

Updates to Medicare and PBS PKI site certificates

Dedicated Commonwealth worker vaccination hubs are now available in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria for all aged care workers. The department will provide advice on additional hubs as they come online.

All aged care workers can get a priority booster appointment at the below sites through the links provided.

Dedicated worker vaccination hubs are available for a limited time so aged care workers should book without delay.

Read more:

Additional Dedicated Worker Vaccination Hubs – Book now

Commonwealth booster clinics for residents and workers eligible for their booster dose have now been completed in residential aged care facilities across Australia.

Read the media release issued today by the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Greg Hunt MP.

As at 9 February 2022, providers reported that 19 per cent of eligible residents who have received a second dose are yet to receive a booster dose.

While the majority of residents were eligible to receive their booster dose, not all residents were able to a booster dose on the day of the in-reach clinic, consent was not completed in some cases and and some residents were not eligible at the time.

It is critical that every resident is offered the opportunity receive a booster dose.

Read more:

Update on residential aged care booster rollout

Senior Australians in residential aged care are leading the national uptake of boosters, with 80.56 per cent of those eligible for their third vaccine shot now having received it.

In-reach booster clinics have reached all 2541 facilities across Australia, with the program completed ahead of the original schedule as the Morrison Government responded to the updated advice on the timing of boosters by ATAGI.
The booster vaccination rate for aged care residents is well ahead of the national community figure of 55.43 per cent.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said it is an excellent response from residents and encouraged those who may not have been eligible or originally declined a booster, to roll up their sleeves.

“We want to continue to provide increased protection for senior Australians and are returning to residential aged care facilities to provide another opportunity for both residents and workers to get their booster dose,” Minister Hunt said.

Read more:

More than 80 per cent of eligible aged care residents receive boosters

As we have communicated previously, we have been working with Services Australia to prepare Manad Plus for upgrades they are making to their digital health and aged care channels.

These upgrades will see aged care digital claiming and event transmission via Business to Government (B2G) software move from adaptor technology to web services technology.

By 13 March 2022, aged care providers will need to use web services compatible software to access the B2G channel for Aged Care Web Services. Aged care providers can continue to use the Aged Care Provider Portal to process claims and events.

We are currently going through final testing for each of the event types (Admissions, Departures, ACFI, Leave etc.) as we work towards receiving our Notice of Integration (NOI) from Services Australia.

As soon as we have received our NOI, we will let you know which Manad Plus version this new option will be available in and how to activate it. In the meantime, and until we release the new version, to move to the new web services, there are some things each organisation will need to do that we cannot do for you.

Changes to Authentication for Business to Government (B2G)

In addition to the upgrade, Services Australia is moving its authentication for B2G from Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology to Provider Digital Access (PRODA).

PRODA is an online verification and authentication system that verifies an organisation or individuals’ identity online. It enables secure access to multiple government online services, including Services Australia’s digital health and aged care channels.

Why are these changes happening?

These changes will ensure Services Australia’s digital health and aged care claiming channels are stable and using up-to-date industry-standard technology.

They will also ensure that patient and provider information is secure, now and into the future.

What this means for you

Manad Plus will be updating your B2G software to support the upgrades to Aged Care Web Services.

You, however, will need to register your organisation in PRODA by 13 March 2022, as PKI authentication will cease for B2G.

Important: Manad Plus will not be able to set your organisation up for PRODA.

For more information, go to How to register an organisation. You can do this now and don’t need to wait.

Once you have the Manad Plus version for web services installed

You will need to:

1. Register and activate a ‘Device’. Learn how to register, activate and manage Business to Business (B2B) Devices in PRODA, at: Managing B2B Devices.
2. Enter the Device Name & Activation Code into Manad Plus.
3. Complete the ‘Register or update for Aged Care web services form (AC027)‘ to set up your device for Aged Care web services.
4. Return the AC027 Form and any supporting document(s) by email to: devsupport@servicesaustralia.gov.au

Important

Medicare PKI certificates are used for purposes other than digital claiming or transmitting data to Services Australia. You may still need your PKI certificate to authenticate for other programmes.

For more information

If you would like to know more about web services and the upgrades to B2G visit:

• Web services for digital health and aged care channels
• PRODA – How to register an organisation
• PRODA – How to register for an Individual account
• Infographic – Registering your Organisation in PRODA (.pdf)
• Simulations – How to create a Provider Digital Access (PRODA) account
• Simulations – Registering your Organisation in Provider Digital Access (PRODA)
• Managing organisation members and their delegations

If you have any questions please get in touch with the Help Desk team.

• P: 1300 62 62 32
• E: support@manad.com.au

Aged care providers in regional and remote parts of Australia will be able to improve services and create safer environments under the latest investment from the Morrison Government.

The $35.3 million multi-purpose services (MPS) program will see 110 aged care sites benefit from minor capital grant projects averaging $321,000 each.

Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Richard Colbeck said the work would range from simple improvements such as gardens and pathways to major building renovations.

“The aim is to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of residents, including for those living with dementia,” Minister Colbeck said.

“These services allow people to stay in their own communities as they get older, close to their family and community ties.

Providers of MPS sites will also soon have the opportunity to expand their services, with 100 new residential care places on offer through a competitive allocation round.”

Read more:

Better aged care services for senior Australians in the bush