Publications
Fact Sheet - Aged Care Funding Instrument
Changes to the Aged Care Funding Instrument from 1 February 2013
From 1 February 2013, changes will be made to the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) for all appraisals completed on or after that date. The changes will be made through amendments to the ACFI User Guide and ACFI Answer Appraisal Pack. These changes are designed to strengthen the evidence requirements and reinforce the original intent of the ACFI. As such, many approved providers will already be meeting the new requirements. The changes have been developed in consultation with sector representatives through the ACFI Monitoring Group and its sub-group the ACFI Technical Reference Group.
What are the changes?
Activities of Daily Living Domain - Questions 1-4:
1 - The ACFI User Guide and ACFI Answer Appraisal Pack will be revised to include the words “assessed need” into the guidelines for questions 1-4.
Questions 1-4 of the ACFI refer to a range of activities for which supervision or physical assistance may be provided to a resident. It has always been a requirement that these items are only claimable where a resident has a need for the level of assistance being provided. As described in the ACFI User Guide, ACFI assessments need to accurately portray the “related day-to-day high frequency need for care” at the time of assessment rather than what the person’s needs may be in the future. This change will reinforce this requirement within the ACFI User Guide and Answer Appraisal Pack.2 - The ACFI User Guide and ACFI Answer Appraisal Pack will restate the wording on page five of the ACFI User Guide that makes it clear that physical assistance refers to assistance throughout the specified activity.
It is already a requirement that a claim for physical assistance should relate to a need for physical assistance throughout the specified activity. The change to the ACFI User Guide and Answer Appraisal Pack is intended to reinforce this requirement for approved providers when making claims.3 - The ACFI User Guide will be revised to require approved providers to record the outcomes of evidence based assessments used to support completion of checklists within the claiming documentation held at the service, and produce these assessments as required for validation purposes.
Approved providers are already required to base their claims in questions 1 to 4 on a contemporaneous assessment or assessment conducted in the previous six months (see page nine of the User Guide). This change will require approved providers to include this information within the completed ACFI Answer Appraisal Pack. For approved providers that store their documentation electronically, this information may also be stored electronically. It should be immediately available with other supporting documentation at time of review.Specific assessment tools will not be mandated. However, the Department will make available information about recommended assessments that may be used.
Complex Health Care – Pain Management
1 - The ACFI User Guide will be revised to change the frequency requirement for complex pain management under question 12-4b from “at least four times per week” to “at least four days per week”.
It has always been the intention of the ACFI that funding for the complex pain management question 12-4b should recognise complex pain management sessions conducted over four days per week. However, the Department has become aware that in some circumstances claims have been made where four sessions occur on three or fewer days. This change will align the payment of complex pain management sessions to its original intent.2 - Question 12.4b: The ACFI User Guide and Answer Appraisal Pack will be revised to clarify the requirement that consistent ongoing treatment must be provided as required by the resident.
The intention of claims under question 12.4b is to provide treatment to residents with conditions which require ongoing intervention to manage their pain, supported by a pain assessment. This is already reflected on page 36 of the User Guide which states that question 12 relates to the assessed need for ongoing complex health care procedures and activities. It is not intended for use with residents with transient episodes of pain requiring treatment. This change will reinforce the intent of this question.When will the changes be implemented?
Release of Updated ACFI User Guide
An updated ACFI User Guide and ACFI Answer Appraisal Pack will be made available to approved providers in January 2013.What do approved providers have to do?
From 1 February 2013, when you complete an ACFI appraisal, you will need to refer to the new ACFI User Guide and complete the new ACFI Answer Appraisal Pack. While approved providers will be required to comply with the new arrangements from 1 February 2013, complying with these requirements is not inconsistent with current arrangements and approved providers may wish to ensure their processes meet these requirements prior to the implementation date.Where can I get more information ?
Further information about these changes is available by calling 1800 200 422 or visit the ACFI webpage.Software vendors will also be provided with information about the changes through the Department of Human Services.
