Publications
Living Longer. Living Better. Aged Care Reform Update No 5
Welcome to the fifth edition of the Aged Care Reform Update. This newsletter provides regular updates from the Department of Health and Ageing on the implementation of the Living Longer Living Better aged care reform package.
Living Longer. Living Better. Aged Care Reform Update No 5 – 16 November 2012
Welcome to the fifth edition of the Aged Care Reform Update. This newsletter provides regular updates from the Department of Health and Ageing on the implementation of the Living Longer Living Better aged care reform package.Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR)
The 2012-13 Aged Care Approvals Round commenced on Saturday 10 November. This year’s ACAR marks a key step forward in the Government’s 10 year aged care reform plan.More than 14,000 new aged care places are being offered across Australia, including 8,341 residential care places and 5,835 Home Care Packages. It is the first ACAR in which the new Level 1 and Level 3 Home Care packages will be allocated. In addition, all new Home Care Packages awarded through this year’s ACAR will need to be offered to consumers on a Consumer Directed Care basis. More than $150 million in zero real interest loans, $51 million in capital grants, and Extra Service Status in residential care are also available through the ACAR.
The ACAR website, provides documentation to assist applicants such as an essential guide, questions and answers and an overview of Home Care Packages and Consumer Directed Care. Applications close on 21 December 2012.
Advice from the Aged Care Financing Authority
Significant Refurbishment
The Aged Care Financing Authority (the Authority) released a discussion paper on significant refurbishment on 14 August 2012 and received 50 submissions. Taking this feedback into account, the Authority provided its initial recommendations on the definition of a ‘significantly refurbished facility’ to Minister Butler on 21 September 2012 with supplementary recommendations provided on 12 October 2012. The Authority’s recommendations to the Minister are available on the Living Longer Living Better website.Interim Operating Framework
The Authority’s Interim Operating Framework was released on 3 August 2012, including details of the Authority’s operating arrangements and work plan. After considering feedback from the sector, the Authority submitted its recommended changes to the Interim Operating Framework to the Minister on 28 September 2012, which have been accepted by Minister Butler. These are available on the Living Longer Living Better website.Accommodation Payments
The Authority also consulted with stakeholders and approved providers on the methodology for setting accommodation payments with a discussion paper released on 31 August 2012. In total 38 submissions were received. The Authority’s draft recommendations are now open for public comment on the Living Longer Living Better website until the close of business on Wednesday 21 November 2012. If you would like to provide feedback please e-mail ACFA Secretariat.Aged Care Service Improvement and Healthy Ageing Grants Fund
The second open competitive funding round under the Aged Care Service Improvement and Healthy Ageing Grants Fund (the Fund) opened on 9 November 2012 and closes on 21 December 2012. Under this round, up to $60.8 million is available for the period to 30 June 2016.The second funding round includes some initiatives introduced under the Living Longer Living Better aged care reform package announced on 20 April 2012, including relevant activities in the Tackling Dementia, Better Health Care Connections and Older Australians from Diverse Backgrounds streams of the package.
Information on the Fund and the second funding round is available on the Fund’s webpage or by calling the Aged Care Helpdesk on 1800 900 554.
Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) Monitoring Group
The ACFI Monitoring Group has now met three times in August, September and October 2012. Data reviewed by the Monitoring Group shows that average subsidies increased from $133.96 in June 2012 to $134.77 in August 2012 – a 0.60% increase. The Monitoring Group noted that while the data to date is limited, growth is tracking as expected. Meeting Outcomes from each meeting are periodically posted on the Department of Health and Ageing website.Proposed Legislative changes
In February next year the Government will introduce into Parliament major amendments to the Aged Care Act 1997. These changes will lay the legislative foundation for the $3.7 billion Living Longer Living Better aged care reform package. The changes to the Aged Care Act are a major element in a two year legislation reform process, which will give consumers greater control over the services they need, when and where they want them.An overview of the proposed legislative changes will be released in November, which will assist interested parties to consider how the changes will affect them. Further information will be provided in future editions of the Aged Care Reform Update on how consumers and stakeholders can get involved and provide comments.
