Review of the remoteness classification system for aged care

About the review

We have reviewed the Modified Monash Model for aged care.

You can read the final report.

The review is being conducted in response to Recommendation 17 of the Aged Care Taskforce Final Report.

The review explored:

how the MMM system is used in aged care
any advantages and/or disadvantages on how the MMM is applied in aged care
factors and conditions, including remoteness, that influence aged care service delivery in regional, rural and remote locations
options for the ongoing use of the MMM for aged care.

The review was conducted in response to Recommendation 17 of the Aged Care Taskforce Final Report.

It builds on the outcomes of the Working Better for Medicare Review.

Why the review was important

The MMM is used to define locations by metropolitan, rural, regional, remote or very remote.

The system was designed to improve distribution of health workforce in rural and remote areas. People in these areas can find it more difficult and more expensive to access health services and doctors.

In aged care, the MMM is used to allocate program funding and other supports for aged care providers in regional, rural and remote locations. Eligibility for some programs or supports can also be based on a provider’s MMM location.

Outcomes of the review

The review found the MMM should continue to be used in aged care but with improvements so it remains an objective tool to target funding and support for regional, rural and remote locations.

The final report provides 15 recommendations to make improvements and address stakeholder concerns.

Review outcomes will be progressed and prioritised through the proposed new RRR policy framework and workplan . Implementation of any revised arrangements will also need to be considered by Government, alongside other aged care reforms already underway.

This includes the review of funding models for specialised aged care programs alongside such as the Multi-Purpose Service Program (MPSP) and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program (NATSIFAC).