Changes to the My Aged Care authentication service – take action now
The ATO is retiring AUSkey and Manage ABN Connections meaning access to the My Aged Care Assessor and Provider Portals using these services will not be possible.
From 28 March 2020, service providers and assessors must use one of the following authentication methods:
- myGovID and Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM)
- VANguard FAS (Organisation Single Sign On)
Fact sheets and user guides to help you set up the new authentication method are available on the department’s website.
For further support please call the My Aged Care Provider and Assessor Helpline on 1800 836 799.
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s monthly newsletter
The Aged Care Quality Bulletin is the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission's online newsletter for aged care providers.
It provides monthly updates on quality and safety as it relates to the delivery of aged care services, as well as quarterly data reports on the regulatory and complaints performance of the sector.
View current and past issues of the newsletter on the Commission’s website.
Subscribe to receive the Commission’s newsletter.
Resources on diverse population groups are now available for aged care staff
The End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) website helps you to care for older Australians at the end of life. Our new diversity resources can help health workers and aged care staff to care for:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Care leavers
- Carers
- Culturally and linguistically diverse people
- Financially or socially disadvantaged people
- People experiencing homelessness
- Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people
- People living in rural and remote areas
- People with spirituality and faith beliefs
- Veterans
How people think about death, dying and end of life is different for each person. Learning about these differences can help you to provide good palliative care. Access these resources on the Diverse Population Groups page of the ELDAC website.
Home Care Packages Program Manuals now available
Following national consultation throughout 2019, the department has developed 2 Home Care Packages Program manuals, one for home care providers and another for consumers.
The Manuals provide consolidated guidance to help providers and consumers better understand the Home Care Packages Program. They also introduce an Inclusions and Exclusions Framework developed to support providers and consumers to work together to decide if a type of care or service is appropriate to meet consumers’ aged care needs, and within legislation.
For more information on the manuals please visit the department's website or call the My Aged Care service provider and assessor helpline on 1800 836 799.
Improvements to payment arrangements for Home Care Packages
At the 2019-20 Budget, the Australian Government announced new payment arrangements for home care. Under these arrangements, providers will be paid for the actual services delivered after they are delivered.
The Aged Care Financing Authority has consulted with providers on the financial impacts of the proposed changes. The department conducted separate consultations on non-financial impacts.
On 27 February 2020, changes to the Aged Care Act 1997 were introduced to Parliament to implement the first phase of the measure, payment in arrears, so it can commence on 1 June 2020.
More information will be provided once the phase 2 implementation model and timeframe are finalised.
Update on the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) trial
The trial of the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) started in November 2019. The purpose of the trial is to assess the effectiveness of the AN‑ACC as a possible replacement for the current Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI).
This is a national trial and includes Modified Monash Model regions 1-6 and all organisation types. Currently, over 170 facilities are participating.
The department has contracted the following organisations to manage the trial:
- HealthCare Australia
- Access Care Network Australia
- Aspire4Life
- Care Tasmania.
Within these organisations, 60 individuals were trained to perform assessments, including 40 Registered Nurses, 11 Occupational Therapists and 9 Physiotherapists.
Over 5,500 assessments have now been completed, with the remaining to be completed by 30 April 2020.
Further information is available in the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC): Fact sheet.
Rollover of 2019–20 CHSP Growth Funding
The 2019–20 CHSP growth funding agreements are currently being processed by the Community Grants Hub and payments commenced in February 2020. Providers are advised the growth funding is being rolled over to 30 June 2021, providing up to 17 months to expend the funds. Providers will not be required to acquit the 2019–20 growth funding until the end of 2020–21.
All other CHSP unspent funds from 2019–20 will be recovered.
For further information, please contact your Funding Arrangement Manager.