Aged care news highlights from the week ending 26 August 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
COVID-19 vaccination in-reach clinics extended
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, Commonwealth vaccination in-reach clinics are available to facilities unable to secure a primary care provider or conduct a self-run on-site vaccination clinic. The Department is extending its Expression of Interest (EOI) process for COVID-19 in-reach vaccination clinics until 31 December 2022.
This will allow any residents who were unable to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations over winter due to various reasons to catch up with their COVID-19 vaccination schedule.
We encourage providers to register your interest for an in-reach clinic: Residential Aged Care COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic - Registration Form. The Department has written to residential aged care providers, please read the letter for further details on the extension of these clinics.
Aged Care COVID-19 support measures extended to end of 2022
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Government has agreed an extension through to 31 December 2022 of key COVID-19 supports currently provided to the aged care sector. Additional funding has also been committed to the Aged Care Support Program extension grant to ensure current and future claims can be met. The Government will continue to review and adjust the COVID-19 response in aged care according to expert advice. The extended supports include:
- Extension of supply through the National Medical Stockpile – where homes that are experiencing an outbreak have exhausted all attempts to source PPE from commercial suppliers, requests for PPE can be made via the My Aged Care Provider Portal.
- Extension of access to RATs for residential aged care homes – Rapid Antigen Test kits (RATs) will continue to be supplied to residential aged care homes through weekly deployments from the NMS for screening and outbreak purposes until 31 December 2022.
- Aged Care Support Program Extension Grant – additional funding – the COVID-19 Aged Care Support Program Extension Grant reimburses eligible aged care providers for eligible expenditure incurred managing direct impacts of COVID-19.
Other News
Aged care one of Australia’s top 10 ‘in demand’ jobs
According to Aged Care Insite, aged care nurses and carers have been tipped as being in one of the most in-demand professions in Australia. The federal government ranked the top ten industries facing critical worker shortages over the next five years ahead of its Jobs and Skills Summit on September 1-2.
Minister consults sector ahead of jobs summit
According to Community Care Review, the recent aged care workforce roundtable discussed all the key issues and offered a valuable opportunity for providers to advocate and plan for the future, attendees tell Community Care Review.
See also, Aged Care Insite: Providers call to ‘move fast’ on staff shortages ahead of Jobs summit.
Food and Nutrition reporting is changing
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, Food and Nutrition reporting for services receiving the Basic Daily Fee (BDF) supplement will now be through the new Quarterly Financial Report (QFR). The QFR began on 1 July 2022, and the first report, covering July to September, is due 4 November 2022.
Providers must report on food and nutrition expenditure and staff hours in the QFR. Reporting will be mandatory for all residential aged care, MPS and NATSIFACP services from 1 October 2022. Find further information and guidance on the QFR and view the updated QFR template on the Forms Administration website.
Aged Care Financial Report submission and helpdesk
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, approved aged care providers will soon need to submit their annual Aged Care Financial Report (ACFR) through the Forms Administration portal. Providers will be notified via email once the portal opens, and submissions are due by 31 October 2022.
A data collection helpdesk run by Forms Administration is available to help providers. Call the helpdesk on (02) 4403 0640 or email enquiries to health@formsadministration.com.au. Before the start of the submission period we encourage providers to send any financial reporting enquiries to ffbconsultation@health.gov.au.
Changes to the Aged Care Pricing Commissioner function
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, on 12 August 2022, following the passing of the Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response) Bill 2022, the Aged Care Pricing Commissioner’s functions were transferred to the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (Pricing Authority). Aged care providers are required to seek approval from the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority to:
- increase their fees for extra services
- charge new fees for extra services
- charge accommodation costs that are higher than the allowed maximum rate.
Any applications that were submitted to the Aged Care Pricing Commissioner for approval before 12 August will automatically be processed by the Pricing Authority. Find more information about the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority.
AN-ACC funding estimator
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, residential aged care providers are reminded they can access an online AN‑ACC funding estimator to help with estimating their potential Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) funding in the lead up to the new arrangements starting on 1 October 2022. We encourage providers to regularly visit the residential aged care funding reform webpage for the latest information and support material, to help with their transition to the new AN‑ACC funding model from 1 October 2022.
New Aged Care Payment System, plus care minutes targets now available on support portal
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the new Aged Care Payment System (ACPS) has now gone live, which means the online claiming channels including Aged Care Provider Portal (ACPP) and Aged Care Web Services are now open. You may start lodging claims and submitting events such as ACFI, entry (including Palliative on entry), leave, and departures.
We encourage providers to use the range of resources about the new ACPS. These are available on the Services Australia Health Professional Education Resources page.
Care minutes targets
Providers can now view their care minutes targets in the My Aged Care Service and Support Portal. For more information see Section 9 of the My Aged Care Service and Support Portal User Guide and the fact sheet on How to calculate care minutes targets.
Workforce Initiatives
These programs can assist providers to meet workforce planning objectives and care minute targets.
More grants available for aged care innovators
According to Community Care Review, the Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia has opened applications this week for the second round of its grants program and third round of workforce innovator training program. ARIIA, which launched under its new name last week, is a commonwealth-funded centre dedicated to providing resources and assistance to the aged care workforce to help it deliver best practice care and support.
Contracting outside workers in aged care increases problems
According to UTS, complaints, missing persons, assaults – contracting outside workers in aged care increases problems. Aged care homes struggling to meet staffing needs are increasingly relying on externally contracted care workers to make up shortfalls. However, our new study, shows homes that rely more heavily on externally contracted care staff provide significantly worse quality of care.
Legislation
No significant developments this week.
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