Update

Industry Update, March 2023

Karina Peace

01 Mar 2023 — 3 min read

Aged Care Funding Reform Committee

The RACFR Committee met last week with some robust discussions and debates. I have provided an overview, but keep in mind nothing is fixed until it is formally announced.

The implementation of 24/7 Registered Nurses and supplement. Some important facts you should know:

Exemptions –facilities that are exempt (initially) from the 24/7 RNs will be contacted by the Dept. of Health to support the completion of required documentation evidencing why the exemption should be granted and how the clinical care of residents will not be compromised.
Definitions:
- Residential Facility – not defined in the Aged Care Act. The
- Co-located services are those with more than one RAC on the same site. One RN is permitted across multiple services at the one site.
- Split Services are those spread out across multiple sites with one RAC. A RN is required at each site.
To automatically receive the RN supplement you must:
- Have 60 or under total residents in care based on occupied beds
- Meet the proposed threshold – to be confirmed
- Complete the monthly reporting on time
- Care minute targets must still be met

The additional reporting for the supplement is based on financial measurements and as such will be maintained monthly and not combined with the QFR due to payments being issued monthly. Acknowledgement is given this will affect small facilities with the additional workload of monthly reporting.

PCAs and medication administration

PCAs are NOT to administer medication. They may only assist someone to take the medication. An adjustment to the legislation will be released imminently.

AN ACC

No changes are foreseen to be made to AN ACC anytime soon.

The Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority will make a recommendation to Government shortly about the AN ACC price for 23/24. The recommendation will include an assessment of the impact of the Fair Work Commission decision on wages for aged card workers.

Acknowledgement is given that some facilities are finding it challenging to meet their care minutes with the current funding being received. This is under discussion on how support is given to these facilities without changing the AN ACC structure.

AMO Assessors

We continue to receive feedback on the varying levels of competency or compliance to process with AMO’s on the application of AN ACC to resident care and evidence. If you have any concerns you have a number of avenues available to you.

Discuss your concerns with the Regional Manager for the AMO
Email your concerns to anaccoperations@health.gov.au
Request an appeal.

Remember it is your funding and if you feel it isn’t reflective of the care needs of your residents then you need support to understand how to better manage your evidence and outcomes.

Legislation Changes

Nil additional changes noted.

Financial Reports

Just incase you missed the big news this last week, we have been advised by ACCPA that only 33.9% of aged care providers are profitable since 1 July 2022.