Providers want focus on timeline
The new transition taskforce will stress test providers’ reform implementation concerns, says aged care minister Anika Wells in response to fears about the inadequate time to prepare.
Providers have reiterated concerns about the timeline for reforms following the aged care legislation passing the lower house of parliament this week.
Aged care stakeholders congratulated all those involved following yesterday’s announcement that Aged Care Bill 2024 passed and the new Aged Care Act would commence on 1 July 2024.
But given the scope of changes under the new Act, Aged & Community Care Providers Association said providers needed realistic transition times and support for the “mammoth task” of implementing the vital reforms.
“We can’t have a situation where parts of the new Act are implemented, with mandated requirements that simply can’t be achieved due to a lack of lead time,” said ACCPA chief executive officer Tom Symondson.
“Failure would have a disastrous impact on the confidence of the sector. Everyone wants this reform to succeed, but that means a staged approach to implementation should be adopted. We only get one chance to get this right.”
Transition taskforce to “stress test” concerns
When asked at a press conference on Monday afternoon how confident she was that providers would be able to meet the government’s timeline for change, Ms Wells said the Aged Care Transition Taskforce was established in direct response to providers’ concerns.
Ms Wells, announced the taskforce and its leader Council of Elders chair Anne Burgess last week, said it would address and share all providers reform concerns.
“[Anne Burgess is] independent and the point of the taskforce is to stress test these reforms. Whether you are a multinational provider or you are an independent, volunteer board run cottage nursing home in rural Australia, you can bring your concerns to the transition taskforce and have them stress tested so that everybody who needs a heads up gets that heads up as soon as possible,” Ms Wells told the press conference.
The transition taskforce, which will provide advice to government, will include aged care provider representatives, consumer advocates, ICT specialists, primary and clinical care experts, and representatives from the Department of Health and Aged Care and Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
“You would have seen we’re bringing together all the different Australian Government agencies who have a say in this, and they’ll be a part of the taskforce, getting this up and trying to work through those problems so that we can be ready for 1 July,” Ms Wells said.
The transition taskforce will meet for the first time this Thursday, she said.
The peak body for Catholic aged care providers – Catholic Health Australia – also said the focus must now turn to the transition phase ahead of reform implementation.
“Providers and older Australians will need time to adapt to the reforms in a staged way, particularly with regard to home care,” said Alex Lynch, CHA’s director of public health and in-home support policy.
“We will continue to advocate for transitional arrangements through the Aged Care Transition Taskforce and consultation on subordinate legislation.”
CHA’s deputy chair and chair of Catholic Healthcare Steve Teulan and Mr Symondson are among those representing providers on the transition taskforce.
Minister keeping eye on grants
Along with the taskforce, Ms Wells also announced last week that $10,000 grants would soon be available to help eligible providers with the costs for IT changes required for 1 July.
In response to a question about whether there would be further grant rounds as the reforms progressed, Ms Wells did not rule it out.
“It’s the biggest reform in 30 years to a sector in crisis that we’ve been trying to bring back from the brink. We want to make it work. Older people are relying on us to make it work. So, we’ll be keeping an active watch on this, and that’s the whole point of having a taskforce to try and triage these problems as they arise.”
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