Important Information Regarding Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination for Residential Aged Care Workers
Most recent information by the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Greg Hunt MP and the Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck outlines the important role that providers play in supporting and facilitating the vaccinating of the workforce with at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the 17 September deadline. So far, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland have issued mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirement orders to be able to meet this deadline, and other states and territories are expected to release their orders soon.
More information on mandatory vaccination in Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland, click here.
Behaviour Support Plans for Residential Aged Care
This is a reminder for all residential aged care providers to have Behaviour Support Plans (BSP) in place from 1 September 2021. BSPs are required where a care recipient needs behaviour support, and where restrictive practice has been assessed as necessary or being used. BSPs need to be responsive to the care recipient’s needs and include best practice support strategies. It also needs to seek to reduce or end the need for restrictive practices, address underlying concerns, provide safeguards and optimise the care recipient’s health and wellbeing.
Factsheet – Minimising restrictive practices
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission resources for resources to support providers to minimise the use of restrictive practices
Home Care Packages – Changes to Financial Reporting Requirements
In response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety recommendations, home care providers will have new reporting requirements in the 2021‑22 Aged Care Financial Report (ACFR) to increase accountability and transparency on subsidies and fees. This includes a new requirement for some residential care providers to submit a financial support statement as part of their ACFR. The first ACFR with the new requirements is due by 31 October 2022. Details on changes to the 2020‑21 ACFR are available on the ACFR forms web page.
Update: Payment Arrangements
Phase 2 of the Improved Payment Arrangements begins on 1 September 2021, which will see home care providers receive funding based on the exact services delivered to their care recipients. Updated documents to support this are available on the Department of Health website. To be ready for phase 2, you need to make sure your claims are up to date with Services Australia, submit claims in sequential order, submit only one claim per day, submit $0 claims for the months where you haven’t provided care, and more. See below for full details.
Department of Health resources:
Improved Payment Arrangements for home care providers
Are You Ready for Payment Arrangements?
New National Provider of Goods, Equipment and Assistive Technology (GEAT) Services Under the CHSP
The Department of Health has engaged Indigo Australasia to deliver GEAT services Australia wide under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), to be available in all Aged Care Planning Regions. This will not replace current GEAT providers, rather act as an additional service to help close GEAT service gaps, reduce wait times for some clients, and give more choice when sourcing GEAT services. Aged care assessors will now be able to select Australian GEAT2GO (Indigo) as a GEAT provider in all regions of Australia.
