Petition calls for allied health in aged care funding tool
A new campaign is calling on the Federal Government to include allied health services in the residential aged care funding tool.
A petition calling for allied health services to be included in the residential aged care funding tool has collected almost 500 signatures in less than a week.
Aged care allied health provider Guide Healthcare launched the change.org petition on Monday to encourage aged care services minister Richard Colbeck to reconsider allied health in the proposed Australian National Aged Care Classification or alternative new funding tool.
Guide Healthcare director Simon Kerrigan said he launched the petition to be proactive in creating change for allied health in aged care.
“I’ve got a real concern with the AN-ACC in its current form that allied health professionals are going to severely be limited because we know services that aren’t directly funded in aged care, they are not prioritised,” Mr Kerrigan told Australian Ageing Agenda.
The AN-ACC is a casemix classification funding model developed by University of Wollongong as part of the Resource Utilisation and Classification Study to replace the Aged Care Funding Instrument.
Assessors began independent shadow assessments this month as part of a 12-month trial.
Amending the AN-ACC to include physical therapy subsidy would be worthwhile for the sector, Mr Kerrigan said.
“They’ve already done the costing for it, which is essentially [removing] the pain management components of ACFI and redirecting that into this physical therapy subsidy.
“I can’t see why that can’t be just patched on to the AN-ACC, or included as part of the AN-ACC as a separate subsidy in order to make sure that residents have access to the allied health services that they need and deserve,” Mr Kerrigan said.
The current aged care funding tool provides for very limited allied health services, such as heat packs, massage and technical equipment, and is widely considered inadequate.
The aged care royal commissioners provided their support for a casemix funding tool such as the AN-ACC and recommended funding for needs-based allied health services in both residential and home aged care that is not limited by narrow constraints of a funding tool.
Provider alliance Australian Aged Care Collaboration have called for funding for approved providers to engage with allied heath professionals based on a blended funding model by July 2024 in support of the commissioners’ recommendations.
This timeline is “concerning” Mr Kerrigan said.
“If the tool is introduced prior to that period, I can’t see any major change occurring to it. In the first 12 months, two years or three years, they’ll let it be introduced and settled prior to making any significant changes. So we need to pressure them now. We need to try and push for change now,” he said.
The petition received more than 300 signatures in the first 24 hours from people joining the call change, Mr Kerrigan said.
The petition has 492 signatures at the time of publishing on Friday at 8am.
“We have an opportunity now that the system is changing to create a better model and the people who are going to get the most benefit out of it is the residents.”
Find out more about the petition.
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“Allied health professions” include mental health care and wellbeing. This is the least supported service in the aged care sector. Physical and mental health are totally entwined – supporting both is essential.
I don’t think that Mr Kerrigan understands the AN-ACC funding model, which is to fund groups of residents depending on their relative need. A subsidy for a particular purpose will decrease the total amount available to be distributed through the AN-ACC. How the aged care provider uses those funds to provide services is entirely up to the provider. A better way to ensure that residents have access to allied health services may be to include allied health professionals in mandated staff ratios.
We also need to include all allied health when the RCS was ineffect it at least acknowledged social needs, leisure, recreation other therapy including music, art therapy and most importantly Diversional & Recreation Therapy, the allied health profession that provides leisure, recreation , community interaction , and organises cultural, spiritual and religious support via services , community groups , animal assisted visit, and intergenerational programs…
The Funding tool looks good on paper but how the funds get transferred to care is another story. Another tool, different assessments and more Jargon. Still the same old inconsistency of care. The commission will be left to enforce what is met and unmet and older Australians will be left with sub par care. Allied Health needs to be mandated or separate funding provided for restorative type care post hospital admission, falls or medical conditions.
We supported this petition from Simon at the start but there’s been nothing from government that they are going to fund allied health from October next year. As others have said the only way residents will get allied health will be if allied health hours are mandated. We haven’t seen any indication that’s going to happen or much public awareness of the issue. We launched a campaign a couple of weeks ago called death of aged care to draw awareness to the issue. Regardless whether you support the way we are doing we all agree allied health is needed for older people. And that won’t be happening after October next year just over a year away. With an election coming the time to speak up for older people who can’t is now.