Aged care news highlights from the week ending 15 July 2022, aggregated by CompliSpace.

The information in the Weekly Wrap is aggregated from other news sources to provide you with news that is relevant to the aged care sector across Australia and worldwide. Each paragraph is a summary of the subject matter covered in the particular news article. The information does not necessarily reflect the views of CompliSpace.

Coronavirus/COVID-19 News

Covid deaths in aged care homes on the rise

According to Aged Care Insite, coronavirus deaths in Australian residential facilities are beginning to rise again, according to recent figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The report showed the percentage of COVID-19 deaths among aged care residents increased from 17 per cent in 2021 to 26 per cent as of April 2022.

Unvaccinated visitors to enter NSW aged care homes

According to Aged Care Insite, visitors to NSW residential aged care homes will no longer be required to be vaccinated against Covid under new changes starting Monday.

Weekly update on Aged Care and COVID-19 with the Ministers

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

The Department of Health and Aged Care is resuming weekly COVID-19 meetings to support the sector with key updates and advice as cases continue to rise. The first session will be held online on Monday 18 July 12pm – 1pm (AEST). Please register to attend.

Managing your service during winter – release of Aged Care Winter Plan 2022

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to The Department of Health, with the co-circulation of both COVID-19 and influenza, the Department has produced the Winter Plan – A guide for residential aged care providers (the Plan). The Plan provides overarching guidance and resources for aged care providers to support their readiness, response and recovery from exposures and outbreaks of COVID-19 and/or influenza during winter 2022. Additional information can also be found on the Managing a COVID-19 outbreak in residential aged care web page.

COVID-19 oral treatments - administration and eligibility criteria update

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to The Department of Health, the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer (CMO) has written to residential aged care providers and released a statement on the standard of care required in the administration and use of COVID-19 oral antiviral treatments in Residential Aged Care Facilities. Please read the CMO's letter and accompanying statement.

From Monday 11 July 2022, eligibility has been broadened to include people who have chronic respiratory issues due to conditions such as COPD, moderate or severe asthma and there is also greater access for adults living with disability who have multiple medical conditions. Not being vaccinated has been removed as a risk factor from the criteria for prescription under the PBS. Read more about the updated eligibility conditions.

Changes to provision of Rapid Antigen Test kits

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to The Department of Health, the Department is introducing changes to the provision of Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits. From 20 July 2022, the Department will cease supplying to residential aged care facilities experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak or exposure. Residential aged care providers are responsible for sourcing Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) kits.

Govt reinstates $750 COVID isolation payment

According to Inside Ageing, aged care workers will benefit from today’s Federal Government decision to reinstate the $750 COVID leave disaster payments for essential workers through the pandemic’s current winter wave.

Heritage Care charged with three health and safety breaches over 2020 Epping Gardens COVID-19 outbreak – maximum fine $1.5M for each offence

According to The Weekly Source, Heritage Care has become the second Victorian aged care provider in as many weeks to face charges over COVID-19 management, with WorkSafe Victoria alleging three breaches of the Occupational Health and Safety Act in the July 2020 outbreak at Epping Gardens in Melbourne.

Reforms to drive consolidation

According to The Weekly Source, aged care operators need to be on the front foot in terms of their workforce planning, technology investment and board leadership – or risk being left behind under the next round of reforms.

Other News

Update on AN-ACC shadow assessments

According to the Department of Health, we have heard concerns from residential aged care providers that Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) assessments may not be completed by 1 October 2022 when the new care funding model is due to begin.

To date, around 91% of active aged care residents around Australia now have an AN‑ACC classification with almost every facility visited for assessments at least once. Based on current progress, the department is on track to complete all assessments well before AN‑ACC goes live.

To ensure assessments are completed before 1 October 2022, we encourage providers to submit entry information for new residents into the Services Australia system and requests for reclassifications via the My Aged Care Provider Portal as early as possible.

Update on AN-ACC funding and care minutes estimator and fact sheets

According to the Department of Health, providers can now access an online AN-ACC funding and care minutes estimator to help with estimating their potential Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) funding and care minutes targets for their residential aged care facilities.

We have also published a number of new fact sheets about care staffing reporting, palliative care entry arrangements, residential respite care and the pricing advice from July 2023.

Changes to aged care claiming and the August 2022 advance payment of residential aged care subsidy

According to the Department of Health, issue 12 of Your Aged Care Update published on 29 June included information regarding the upgrade of the Services Australia aged care payment system that was scheduled to take place during July 2022. These payment system changes have now been delayed by one month. More information will be provided when it becomes available.

‘Aged care is in crisis’: battling to keep community nursing homes in the bush

According to The Guardian, affected by funding shortfalls and staff shortages, regional not-for-profit facilities are struggling to survive.

Critical digital systems yet to be implemented across Australia's residential aged care sector: survey

According to Healthcare IT News, the Aged Care Technology Consortium in Australia has noted the dearth of critical digital system implementations across the residential aged care sector in a recent nationwide survey. Nearly a tenth of staff polled said they still use a paper-based care management system.

Aged care medicine reviews reduce mortality rates

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, new research has shown medication reviews are linked to a lower risk of death for aged care residents.

Physio peak fears boost to nurse hours will cut allied health funding

According to Aged Care Insite, the physiotherapy peak body fears the government's promise to raise nursing hours in residential care will cut the budget allocated for allied health services.

Providers invited to trade ‘pain points’ for funding

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the Aged Care Centre for Growth and Translational Research has $13 million in grants to give to residential and home aged care providers to implement an evidence-based solution that solves an identified problem, an industry conference has heard.

Legislation

Public Health (COVID-19 Care Services) Order (No 2) Amendment (No 1) Order 2022 [NSW] – commenced 18 July 2022

The object of this Order is to amend the Public Health (COVID-19 Care Services) Order (No 2) 2022 to remove restrictions on visitors to residential aged care facilities.

Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Palliative Care Classification and Other Measures) Instrument 2022 [CTH] – commences 23 July 2022

This instrument amends multiple instruments to provide a modified classification mechanism for palliative care entry to an aged care facility, requiring only a certification by a medical practitioner of palliative status (including 3 months life expectancy) prior to entry; rather than the independent assessment process being implemented for classification of needs following entry.