Home Care

Latest data from the Federal Government shows the national queue for Home Care Packages at the appropriate level stands at 112,237, down from 119,524 in the previous quarter.

The data shows nearly 135,000 older Australians have access to home care, follows an additional $537 million funding package announced in November 2019 in response to the Royal Commission Interim Report. This package which included $500 million for an additional 10,000 home care packages.

While the extra packages are welcome, more than 112,000 Australians are still waiting for a package at their approved level. Waiting times in many locations are still more than 12 months and, in some cases, over 24 months.

Background

The Federal Government introduced the Increasing Choice in Home Care (ICHC) reforms in February 2017. Since implementation, LASA has provided robust and independent advocacy on behalf of the sector.

You can view a LASA webinar on future home care reforms below:

LASA Home Care Information Series

Home Care Reforms Info Series Issue 1 – My Aged Care National Prioritisation Process

Home Care Reforms Info Series Issue 2 – Home Package Levels

Home Care Reforms Info Series Issue 3– Unspent Home Care Amounts & Exit Amounts

Home Care Reforms Info Series Issue 4 – Top Tips: Regulation Focus

Home Care Reforms Info Series Issue 5 – Frequently Asked Questions

Home Care Reforms Info Series Issue 6 – Summary of the Home Care Changes

Home Care Reforms Info Series Issue 7 – Updated Summary of the Home Care Changes

Home Care Reforms Info Series Issue 8 – Updated Information

Home Care Reforms Info Series – Issue 9 – Update

Home Care Reforms Info Series Issue 10 – Package upgrades

Home Care Reforms Info Series Issue 11 – Multiple NAPS ID Services

Home Care Reforms Info Series Issue 12 – LASA’s MAC Provider Survey and Liaison with the DoH

Home Care Reforms Info Series Issue 13 – LASA’s MAC Provider Survey Final Report

Home Care Reforms Info Series Issue 14 – Consumer Choice and Home Care Package Budget Expenditure

Home Care Reforms Info Series Issue 15 – Home Care Package Activations

Home Care Reforms Info Series Issue 16 – NACA Discussion Paper / ACFA Annual Report

Home Care Reforms Info Series Issue 17 – Income Tested Fees / ITF’s / Home Care Packages Data Report

Home Care Reforms Info Series Issue 18 – Combining or Transferring Services / Incorrect Package Withdrawals

Home Care Reforms Info Series Issue 19 – LASA’s Second Home Care Provider Report

Overview of Home Care Changes

Federal Parliament passed the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Increasing Consumer Choice) Act 2016 in March 2016, which resulted in amendments to existing Principles and Determinations and the introduction of new Legislative Instruments to support the Act. The four new Legislative Instruments are:

The first part of these changes saw the introduction of three major changes to the delivery of home care:

the Home Care Package funding following the consumer.
one national prioritisation system for people waiting for a Home Care Package (a national queue) supported by a National Package Inventory, which will identify all used and unused packages.
improvements to the process for organisations to become an Approved Provider.

Department of Health Resources

The Department of Health released several resources to help people understand the key changes, including factsheets and webinars. This information is available via the Department’s website. Webinars available on demand via the Department’s website include:

Increasing Choice in Home Care – Operational Readiness
Increasing Choice in Home Care – My Aged Care Service Finder functionality
Increasing Choice in Home Care – Changing Providers and Unspent Funds

The Department also released the following factsheets for providers and consumers:

Provider Factsheets	Topics Covered
Introduction to Home Care Changes	What is changing? Overview of key changes What is not changing? When do the changes to home care start? What can I do to prepare?
Consumer Directed Care	What is Consumer Directed Care? The Home Care Package Programme Home Care Package Provider CDC requirements Ongoing management of home care package services Consumer rights
Supporting Client Discussions	What is changing? What do the changes mean for clients?
Discussing the Assessment and Approval Process with Clients	Assessment for home care Receiving the outcome of your assessment Research home care providers and work out costs Being assigned a home care package Entering into a Home Care Agreement.
National Prioritisation Process	How will consumers be prioritised? How will home care packages be assigned to consumers Creating the National Package Inventory The National Package Inventory from 27 February 2017
Changing Home Care Providers	What happens when a client changes providers? Obligations for the existing service provider Obligations for the new service provider What is the client’s role?
Unspent Home Care Amounts	What is the unspent home care amount? What changes are occurring; and What do I need to do?
Overview of Exit Amounts	What is an exit amount? What changes are occurring? Requirements for providers Deducting an exit amount
Exit Amount – Transition Provisions	What is an exit amount? What changes are occurring? Transitional arrangements
Home Care Package service finder	What is changing? How will clients find a service provider? What can I do to prepare? What information will be captured?

Consumer Factsheets Topics Covered

Consumer Directed Care	What is Consumer Directed Care? Provider Obligations What am I entitled to? Support
Changes to Home Care	Increasing Choice in Home Care I’m currently receiving a home care package. What do the changes mean for me? I have been assessed as eligible to receive a home care package, but haven’t started receiving care yet. What do the changes mean for me?

Other resources available on the Department’s website include: