Aged care news highlights from the week ending 22 September 2023, aggregated by Ideagen.

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 Ideagen.

COVID-19 News 

No significant developments this week.

Other News

Providers gearing up for care minutes deadline

According to Aged Care Insite, with October approaching, aged care providers have adopted a number of initiatives to ensure they meet the incoming care minutes target. From 1 October aged care homes will be required to provide an average of 200 minutes of care per resident per day – including 40 minutes of care from a registered nurse.

Provider operations reporting due 31 October

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, residential and home care providers must submit their provider operations information on the Provider Operations Collection Form, through the Government Provider Management System (GPMS) by 31 October 2023. The first reporting period will be 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023. More information and user guides:

• For provider operations reporting requirements, visit: Strengthening provider governance in aged care.
• For GPMS, visit: Government Provider Management System (GPMS).

Reporting open: 2022-23 financial year Aged Care Financial Report

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Aged Care Financial Report (ACFR) for the 2022-23 reporting period is now available for approved providers to complete through the forms administration portal. Reports are due by 31 October 2023.

We will use the financial information collected in the ACFR to publish the Financial Report on the Australian Aged Care Sector. Information on residential and home care providers’ income and expenses will be summarised and published on the My Aged Care website at the service level from early 2024. Useful resources to help complete reports are on our website – Aged Care Financial Report. For further help you can call (02) 4403 0640 or email health@formsadministration.com.au

Reminder: Schedule your Residents’ Experience Survey 2023

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, residential aged care providers are reminded that the 2023 round of the Residents’ Experience Survey (RES) will finish soon. The survey is an important initiative offering residents an opportunity to share feedback on their care. It is also used to determine each home’s Residents’ Experience rating that contributes 33 per cent to the overall Star Rating. If you have not yet been contacted to arrange the RES visit to your facility, contact our third-party workforce on connect@residentexperiencesurveys.com.au to schedule one. All visits must be scheduled by 29 September. Non-participation in the Residents’ Experience Survey may lower your aged care home’s Star Rating. More information is available on the Residents’ Experience Survey webpage.

New Food, Nutrition and Dining Hotline

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission now has a dedicated phone line for food nutrition and dining concerns. People receiving aged care, their representatives and staff can call the hotline with enquiries, questions and complaints. The new service gives people a straightforward way to get advice and information about food, nutrition and dining in aged care. Call the Aged Care food and nutrition hotline on 1800 844 044. Read more about Food, Nutrition and Dining (for providers) on the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s website.

Modest profit lift for sector, says report

According to Community Care Review, the financial performance of home care providers improved slightly, according to the latest government report.

Home Care News

Provider claiming issue – home care packages and short-term restorative care

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, we have been alerted that some people are starting to use their HCP before their Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) has ended. Advice for HCP and STRC providers to avoid the loss of claim payments:

• when a Short-Term Restorative Care client signs an agreement for a HCP, the STRC eligibility ceases on the day the HCP agreement starts.
• HCP and STRC providers should ensure that clients are aware that STRC services cease if they enter into a HCP agreement.
• Home Care Package providers should check that onboarding clients are not currently receiving STRC services and, if they are, to contact the STRC provider to coordinate the transfer of services.

To confirm whether someone is receiving STRC services, check the My Aged Care service and support portal or call the provider helpdesk on 1800 836 799.

Legislation

Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Care Minutes Responsibilities) Principles 2023 [CTH] – commenced 12 September 2023

This instrument amends multiple instruments to establish new responsibilities for approved providers in relation to required amounts of direct care provided by combined staff members and registered nurse staff members per care recipient per day in respect of a residential care service for a quarter of a financial year. This instrument also introduces a new requirement for the Secretary to make publicly available both the care minutes responsibilities and the actual average amount of direct care provided per care recipient per day, in relation to each residential care service each quarter.