Aged care news highlights from the week ending 28 July 2023, 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
‘Still no sign’: Aged care homes still waiting for COVID-19 reimbursement
According to Aged Care Insite, aged care homes are being pushed further into debt as they are left guessing when an estimated half a billion dollars of emergency Covid expenses will be reimbursed. Federal Government introduced Covid support grants to assist aged-care providers in controlling outbreaks within their facilities, protect weaker residents and their families, and restrain transmission of Covid with the local community.
COVID-19 and the aged care financial fallout
According to Aged Care Guide, 66 percent of aged care providers operated at a loss between July – September 2022, with just 25.9 percent of not-for-profit aged care operators recording a net profit. Aged care providers are still holding out hope that hundreds of millions in emergency COVID spending will be reimbursed by the Government, years after the pandemic.
Other News
Star Ratings: July provider preview to be paused
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the current Star Ratings provider preview period is being temporarily paused. The latest update to Star Ratings will not be published on the My Aged Care website on 31 July as previously announced. Residential aged care providers are not required to take any action at this time. An issue has been identified affecting some Quality Measures ratings available for preview in the new Government Provider Management System. The department is working as quickly as possible to rectify the issue and will re-establish the provider preview as soon as possible.
Regulation impacts staff mental health, says expert
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the aged care sector needs to recognise the effect compliance measures are having on workers’ wellbeing, a psychologist has told Australian Ageing Agenda. “There is an impact of regulation on workforce mental health,” said Sue Jauncey, founder and CEO of Appellon – a provider of research-backed workforce engagement programs. In a position paper, Ms Jauncey argues that government regulation can generate both positive outcomes and “unforeseen negative consequences”.
QI confusion may lead to false results, say experts
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, difficulties surrounding the additional mandatory quality indicator data providers are required to report could compromise accuracy, say leading aged care consultants. To support the sector, Health Generation and QPS Benchmarking have partnered to address the industry challenges faced by providers when gathering, collecting and submitting the QI data to government.
Aged care task force considers all funding options for sector
According to Aged Care Insite, a Federal Government task force assigned to find a long-term solution for sustainable aged care funding has suggested wealthier individuals pay more for their care rather than introduce a tax or levy.
Watchdog must better interact with providers, says report
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the aged care regulator needs to be more collaboratively engaged with the sector, according to an independent review. Released on Friday, and authored by David Tune, the report makes 32 recommendations to bolster and rebuild the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
Reminder: Renew staff (A User) access in the Aged Care Provider Portal
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, annual renewals for many A Users with access to Services Australia’s Aged Care Provider Portal are due in September 2023. Provider admin users can extend staff access for 12 months without completing a new registration form. Renewals can be actioned any time before the A Users expiry date. To avoid delays in staff access and reduce administration, visit the provider portal on the Services Australia website and make your updates now.
24/7 Registered nurse supplement
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the 24/7 registered nurse (RN) supplement for eligible residential aged care services started this month. Residential aged care services do not need to apply to Services Australia to receive the RN supplement. We will notify Services Australia of all eligible residential aged care services each month.
For a service to receive the supplement with their monthly claim, Services Australia must receive the eligibility notification from the Department of Health and Aged Care. If notifications are received after claims are finalised any supplement will be paid with the next approved claim. For more information on eligibility, see Section 5.6 of the Care minutes and 24/7 registered nurse responsibility guide. Read more about the 24/7 registered nurse supplement on our website.
24/7 Registered nurse responsibility reporting
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, approved providers of residential aged care services must report their registered nurse (RN) coverage for the 24/7 RN responsibility in the Government Provider Management System (GPMS) each month.
Monthly 24/7 RN coverage data at the facility level is expected to be published on the department’s website from the end of August 2023. The July 2023 report is due by 11.59pm AEST Monday 7 August. Providers should log on to GPMS as soon as possible to report.
Providers who do not report for a facility will not receive the facility’s 24/7 RN supplement. The 24/7 RN data coverage webpage will indicate that facility has not met their 24/7 RN reporting obligations for that month. More information:
If you need help, contact the My Aged Care Service Provider and Assessor Helpline on 1800 836 799 from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 2pm on Saturday, local time across Australia.
New Aged care reform: guide for providers booklet available
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, a new booklet Aged care reform: a guide for providers is available to download for free from the department’s website. This booklet gives aged care providers – both home and residential – an overview of what reforms impact you, as well as how you can access support and have your say about the reforms.
Financial and Prudential reforms: an update from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, on 1 July 2023, the financial monitoring of approved aged care providers transferred from the Department of Health and Aged Care to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. The Commission anticipate issues and applies strategies to reduce financial risks that have the potential to impact financial viability and quality of care.
In this video, Commissioner Janet Anderson discusses how the transfer of responsibility will enhance the Commission’s existing functions as the prudential regulator, and better support and build viability across the aged care sector. Visit the Commission’s webpage for further information on financial and prudential regulation.
Consultation: Pricing Framework for Australian Residential Aged Care Services 2024–25
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) would like to hear from individuals and organisations to support the development of pricing advice for residential and respite aged care services. IHACPA’s aim is to ensure that pricing advice on the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) funding model is directly informed by the actual cost of delivering care. Consultation on the Pricing Framework for Australian Residential Aged Care Services 2024‑25 closes 5pm AEST, Thursday 31 August 2023. To make a submission, visit the Open consultations page on the IHACPA website.
Reforms inadequately recognise allied health
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the aged care reforms are overly focused on the delivery of nursing care with not enough consideration given to allied health care, said an industry expert.
Pricing framework feedback sought
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority has released a consultation paper on the pricing framework for residential aged care. Stakeholders are invited to provide input on the policy, principles and methodology that will support the development of the body’s costing and pricing advice for 2024-25.
Ageism awareness training changes workers’ mindsets
According to Community Care Review, aged care providers should educate staff about ageism, Age Discrimination Commissioner Dr Kay Patterson told Community Care Review. Dr Patterson’s comments come after research conducted by the Australian Human Rights Commission shows ageist attitudes can be changed through educational intervention.
Home Care News
Home care could lose human touch
According to Community Care Review, home care price caps will impact face-to-face care management, says industry expert. “Human connection is one of the principal features that both our employees want and our customers want,” said Helen Kemp – general manager community health and care at not-for-profit provider Benetas. “But in a Support at Home environment – which I think is going to be a low-cost high-volume kind of play – that human connection might be lost.”
Legislation
Health Care Decision Making Bill 2023 (No. 95 of 2023) [NT] – passed 26.07.23
The purpose of the Health Care Decision Making Bill 2023 (the Bill) is to create a stand-alone Act that provides a central framework for health care decision making for situations where an adult person has impaired decision making capacity (other than under the Mental Health and Related Services Act 1998), to make provision for urgent health care without consent for both adults and children and to make consequential amendments to related legislation.
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