News

Existing and prospective aged care providers are encouraged to apply for a share in a record offering of more than 14,200 new aged care places, with a special focus on allocations in rural, regional and remote locations.

Opening the 2018-19 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR) today, Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt said the offering was 35 per cent bigger than the previous round and was a result of the Turnbull Government’s $5 billion aged care Budget boost.

“We are offering 13,500 new residential care places, 775 short-term restorative care places and importantly, a further $60 million in capital grants to encourage more investment in areas of greatest need,” Minister Wyatt said.

“The Turnbull Government is committed to improving access to residential aged care for people living in regional, rural and remote areas.

“To help them continue to live in the communities they know and love, suitable applications targeting these areas will be prioritised.

Read more:

Applications Open for Record Aged Care Offering (.pdf)

As was communicated recently with the Annual Support fee letter, we are extending our Help Desk hours!

Commencing from Monday 2nd July 2018 we will be extending the hours in the morning and afternoon so we have the Help Desk available from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

NOTE: the best part is there will be no additional charge to users for this increase in available hours.

The schedules for residential and home care subsidies and supplements which take effect from 1 July 2018 have been released!!!

Aged Care Subsidies and Supplements

Aged Care Subsidies and Supplements – New Rates of Payment from 1 July 2018 (.pdf)

Schedule of Fees and Charges for Residential and Home Care

Schedule of Fees and Charges for Residential and Home Care: From 1 July 2018 (.pdf)

Schedule of Fees and Charges for Pre 1 July 2014 Residents From 1 July 2018 (.pdf)

The Department of Human Services quarterly review of fees and charges for all care recipients will be effective from 1 July 2018. Care recipients and providers will receive letters letting them know if there is a change to a care recipient’s fees and charges or if a refund may be due.

A consumer who started a home care package before 1 July 2014 can be charged a basic daily fee of up to 17.5% of the basic rate of the single pension. This rate is $10.32 per day.

Change to MPIR from 1 July 2018

The MPIR applicable to ‘refund periods’ will increase from 5.77% to 5.96% for the period from 1 July 2018 to 30 September 2018 for:

• refundable deposit balances and accommodation bond balances
• accommodation prices

The Base Interest Rate remains unchanged at 3.75%.

View current and past Refundable Deposit Balance and Accommodation Bond Balance Refund Interest Rates

Providers must update their published accommodation prices to reflect the new MPIR from 1 July 2018. The daily payment amounts published on the My Aged Care website will be automatically updated on 1 July 2018 using the existing published refundable deposit amounts.

Providers should update the accommodation prices published on their own website and in written materials to reflect the new MPIR from 1 July 2018.

Read more:

Indexation of residential and home care subsidy and supplement rates

In Case You Missed It – Below are links to recent articles on Aged Care and Healthcare that may be of interest:

AAA – New proof of identity requirements for worker checks

AAA – Initial response to complaint has ‘greatest impact on overall outcome’

TWS – If you are remotely interested in the business of residential aged care in Australia you must read this StewartBrown Senate Submission

TWS – Residential aged care requires $70 billion new investment within 10 years – unlikely to happen with these figures

TWS – NSW Minister Matt Kean delivers on promise to lead Australia’s regulation of retirement villages

TWS – The Greiner Report, trust in operators and a new government Code of Conduct

ACG – End of life care project engages in second phase

The National Screening and Assessment Form (NSAF) supports the collection of information during the My Aged Care screening and assessment process.

The NSAF has been reviewed in response to feedback from the sector during the My Aged Care co-design workshops in 2016 and supports the recommendations of the Aged Care Legislated Review 2017.

The review has resulted in system changes to the NSAF which will be introduced as part of Release 12 on 2 July 2018.

Read more:

Updated National Screening and Assessment Form available on 2 July

In this issue:

• 2018-19 ACAR – how to determine regional, rural or remote locations
• New approved provider application forms from 1 July
• New resources to support culturally inclusive aged care
• Australian of the Year Awards 2019

Read more:

Information for Aged Care Providers – Issue 2018/10 (.pdf)

In this issue:

• Regional, rural and remote priority for 2018-19 Aged Care Approvals Round
• Update on the review of the NSAF
• Final draft Aged Care Quality Standards now available

Home Care:

• Social participation and quality of life tools

Read more:

Information for Aged Care Providers – Issue 2018/9 (.pdf)

In Case You Missed It – Below are links to recent articles on Aged Care and Healthcare that may be of interest:

National trial of RedUSe program achieves 13 per cent drop in use of psychotropics

Government announces two new initiatives focusing on older Australians and aged care

Nation’s first advance care planning guide for aged care now available

Program supporting Culturally and Linguistically Diverse seniors sees extension

Dementia prevention now within sight, says expert

Single quality framework another step closer

My Health Record data could be uploaded without consent

80,000 aged care staff plan to leave within five years: HESTA workforce report

Study shows size matters when it comes to the right kind of aged care

Household model of care found to achieve better resident outcomes at no extra cost

This webinar will provide an update on the Single Quality Framework and quality related measures from the 2018-19 Budget. It will focus on key areas of interest for service providers including:

• the implementation of the Single Aged Care Quality Framework including the final draft Aged Care Quality Standards
• practical implications for assessment to support the unannounced reaccreditation process which will come in to effect 1 July 2018
• the mandatory influenza program for staff which began on 1 May 2018
• an update on new quality related measures announced in the 2018-19 Budget.

Read more:

Webinar: Quality Reform Update – 15 June 2018

Webinar Link: http://livestream.education.gov.au/health/15june2018/

Aged care in rural, regional and remote communities will be prioritised in a record-breaking new Aged Care Approval Round (ACAR) announced today by Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt AM.

Announcing the 2018 ACAR at the RSL Remembrance Village in Wagga Wagga, Minister McCormack and Minister Wyatt said the Turnbull Government would provide an additional 13,500 residential aged care places, and 775 short-term restorative care places across the nation.

“This is the largest number of residential places to have been made available in a single ACAR and is an important part of our government’s $5 billion Budget boost for aged care,” said Minister Wyatt.

“While all applications are welcome and will be independently assessed on their merits, special consideration will be given to non-metropolitan areas through the application process.

Read more:

Rural, Regional and Remote Priority for New Aged Care Places (.pdf)