Evaluation of the consumer - directed care initiative - Final Report
8.4 Broader services system impacts
Table of contents
- Executive summary
- Glossary
1 Introduction- 2 The consumer-directed care initiative
- 3 Evaluation of the consumer-directed care initiative
- 4 Profile of participants and the supports they accessed
- 5 Implementation and operation of the initiative
- 6 Impact of the initiative for CDC participants and their carers
- 7 Impact of the initiative for CDRC participants and the people they care for
8 Impact on providers and the broader service system- 9 Cost assessment and cost-effectiveness of the initiative
- 10 Key findings
- 11 Lessons learnt and strategies for consideration
- Appendices
- References
ACAT acceptance of and support for CDC
Some providers reported that there was initial resistance from ACATs at the commencement of CDC. Some ACATs were concerned that CDC would not provide the same level of support available under standard packaged care. These initial concerns appeared to have been overcome. Although ACATs do not assess a person for CDC, they can and did sometimes play a role in helping to identify new participants that might be suitable for CDC. A wider rollout of CDC should consider the information and education needs of ACATs.Brokered services agencies
Several CDC and CDRC providers reported that some brokered services agencies with little experience of cost recovery had some challenges with the invoicing aspects of CDC. This may be an aspect that needs to be considered in a wider rollout of CDC.A number of CDC providers also reported an initial hesitancy by some brokered services agencies to engage directly with the clients. Some CDC providers suggested that those agencies with experience of providing services to disability clients, and therefore previous exposure to self-managing clients, had no issues dealing directly with clients (rather than going through the CDC provider), but those agencies that only provide aged care services could be more reluctant. A potential challenge here is the impact of a greater number of self-managing clients all directly contacting agency providers as CDC expands.
Broader interest in CDC
It was clear from interviews with providers that there is a growing interest in CDC among the broader community care system, from other organisations, other staff within CDC organisations. The impact of this for providers involved in the CDC initiative is potentially a raised profile. The impact for the wider community aged care system will be an increasing demand for information about how CDC is working, and the models in place to implement it.There is also growing interest in CDC from individuals, particularly younger carers who want more control (and who may be dissatisfied with current care arrangements). The impact of this will likely be an increasing demand for CDC and CDRC packages over time – as well as demand for more flexibility and greater control for the consumer within those packages. CDC will need to be responsive to those demands.
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