What you can charge
You can charge for package management separately, but charges must be reasonable and justifiable. This means they must provide value for money and consider the effort and resources it takes.
You must publish package management prices as a dollar figure, so care recipients can easily understand and compare prices.
You cannot charge package management as an:
- hourly charge
- hourly charge on top of the base package management charge.
If you do not charge for package management, you must explain to the care recipient:
- how you deliver this service
- where you cover these costs.
You should consider lowering package management charges to ensure value for money if administration requirements reduce because a care recipient’s:
- assessed care needs reduce
- circumstances change – for example, if they choose to self-manage or require fewer services.
When you can charge
You can charge for package management at a fortnightly or monthly rate.
You must include package management as its own item in a care recipient’s monthly statement.
If a care recipient leaves your care midway through the month, you can still charge the full agreed amount for the entire month.
You cannot charge for package management in a month where the care recipient has ceased care for the entire month, including when taking temporary leave from their package.
Additionally, you cannot charge for package management where you do not deliver a service (other than care management) in the claim month. This excludes the first month the care recipient is with you.
Price caps
We have capped package management prices, based on what level package the care recipient accesses.
The maximum amounts you can charge are:
| Home Care Package level | Daily maximum package management charge | Fortnightly maximum package management charge |
| Level 1 | $4.35 | $60.90 |
| Level 2 | $7.65 | $107.10 |
| Level 3 | $16.65 | $233.10 |
| Level 4 | $25.24 | $353.36 |
We have set these prices at a maximum of 15% of the package level. They will increase with the basic subsidy rate on 1 July each year (see Schedule of Subsidies and Supplements).
They are not the target price for these services or an indicator of what we consider a ‘reasonable’ price.
Find out more about the price caps introduced 1 January 2023.
Example
You and your level 3 care recipient have discussed and agreed that the package management price would be $330 a month. You documented this in their Home Care Agreement.
You have also:
- agreed that you cannot charge for package management where no services are delivered in the claim month, except for the first claim month
- helped the care recipient understand that the first month is different because you need to set up their package
- helped the care recipient understand that you need to deliver care management as it is a mandatory service to ensure continued quality and safety.
After the start of care, the care recipient chooses not to receive services from 1 to 31 March. You did not deliver any services, except for care management. You cannot charge the care recipient for package management in this claim month.
You will still need to give the care recipient a monthly statement for this period and include care management in your claim to Services Australia.
If the care recipient did not want to receive any services, including care management, you should suspend their Home Care Package services. Learn more about temporary leave from Home Care Packages.
Monitoring compliance with price caps
If you do not meet requirements, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission may take compliance action.
The My Aged Care Service and Support Portal prevents price entries above set caps.
We actively monitor and review that providers are meeting requirements, including providers:
- with charges over the caps
- that raise their charges to the caps
- that implement cost shifting measures.
We will investigate issues raised in regular engagements with peak bodies, advocacy groups and care recipients, and may contact providers for clarification.