Aged care news highlights from the week ending 16 September 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.

COVID-19 News

National Cabinet and Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) Statements

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

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, National Cabinet met on 31 August 2022 and agreed to reduce isolation periods from seven to five days for the wider community. This change in isolation requirements only applies to people with no symptoms at five days and the seven day isolation period remains for workers in high-risk settings such as the aged care sector, disability care and those providing in-home care.

Links to both statements are here:

• National Cabinet statement on COVID-19 settings
• Statement from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC)

Changes to the isolation period for COVID-19 positive cases came into effect on Friday 9 September 2022, following the release of the AHPPC statement on 8 September 2022.

All aged care providers are encouraged to remain up-to-date with any changes to the public health orders in their regions, including those about requirements for visitors and staff. Your state or territory has the latest information on the COVID-19 isolation requirements in your region, which are also provided in the links below:

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

Other News

Govt determined to hit RN deadline, says Minister

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, acknowledging concerns the sector will be unable to recruit enough registered nurses to meet the requirement of having them on-site in aged care homes 24/7 from 1 July 2023, Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells has said the government will not give up on that deadline.

Quarterly Financial Report submission

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, approved aged care providers will soon need to submit their first Quarterly Financial Report (QFR) for the 2022‑23 financial year, through the Forms Administration portal. The portal will open for quarter 1 submissions from 1 October. Submissions are due by Friday 4 November 2022.

The QFR update and Q&A webinar recording, slides and transcript are available on the Forms Administration website. Providers can also review the QFR template, guide, definition, and FAQ documents. The Forms Administration helpdesk is available to help providers complete and submit the QFR. Call the helpdesk on (02) 4403 0640 or email enquiries to health@formsadministration.com.au

Food and Nutrition reporting: Explanatory Notes now available

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, Explanatory Notes for Food and Nutrition reporting in the Quarterly Financial Report (QFR) are now available. Use these notes to help you complete your Food and Nutrition report through the QFR. The notes provide detailed guidance and case scenarios, making reporting simpler. The first QFR Food and Nutrition report for July to September 2022 quarter is due on 4 November for all residential, MPS and NATSIFAC services receiving the Basic Daily Fee supplement.

For questions about Food and Nutrition reporting requirements email nutritioninagedcare@health.gov.au.

For questions about the QFR email FFBCONSULTATION@health.gov.au

Aged Care Payment System update

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, following the implementation of the new aged care payment system, Services Australia is carefully monitoring claims processing. As we transition to the new system, your claim for the month of August may take slightly longer than usual. Services Australia continues to work collaboratively with the Department of Health and Aged Care to prepare for the implementation of the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) funding model on 1 October 2022.

Older Australians encouraged to free up housing for younger families

According to Aged Care Insite, pensioners are being encouraged to downsize to free up larger homes for younger families under a proposed new law which has been broadly welcomed, but a lack of housing could be a hurdle. A Bill has been introduced to federal parliament which would give age pension recipients an extra year before the proceeds from the sale of their homes affect their pension payments.

Migrant intake could rob countries of care workforce

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, recruiting aged care workers from overseas – particularly from developing countries – potentially introduces ethical dilemmas, peak body chiefs have told the International Dementia Conference.

Royal Commission Response Bill may violate basic human rights: podcast

According to Aged Care Insite, as the second major aged care reform bill passed the lower house on Thursday last week, law experts continue to advocate removing amendment nine from the first piece of legislation.

Legislation

Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Amendment (September Indexation) Principles 2022 [CTH] – commences 20 Sep 2022

This instrument amends the Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Principles 2014 to update the specified amount of maximum accommodation charge for a post-2008 reform resident of residential aged care as a result of routine indexation.