CHA calls for delayed start to Support at Home

Catholic Health Australia, the peak body representing Catholic aged care organisations, has told a Senate inquiry that Australia’s new home care program should kick off from July 2026, a year later than slated, to ensure an effective implementation.

If the government decides against another delay, the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority should shadow price the new approach while providers continue to receive funding under existing measures for the first year, CHA said in its submission to the Senate’s inquiry into Aged Care Bill 2024 and proposed new legislation.

And irrespective of whether Support at Home is delayed or a shadow pricing approach taken, IHACPA service list prices should be implemented as a benchmark for the sector rather than price caps, said the peak, who appeared before Friday’s Community Affairs Legislation Committee public hearing into the proposed legislation in Brisbane.

CHA “strongly endorses” the transition to Support at Home to sustainably meet the needs of older Australians but joins others in the sector calling for a staged transition, the peak’s director of public health and in-home support policy Alex Lynch told Australian Ageing Agenda.

“We’re calling for a modest delay or a shadow pricing approach to make sure the reforms can be implemented smoothly with no unintended consequences,” Mr Lynch said.

“Providers also need time to implement the changes, including updating IT systems, training staff and informing clients. CHA has highlighted these challenges and other implementation risks in our engagement with the Senate review process, including constructive ways to manage these risks.”

He added: “An alternative to a delay is to begin the new system as scheduled, but to trial its implications for providers in the background for a year to make sure it runs smoothly. This shadow pricing method is best practice and used regularly in the health system.”  

Lorraine Poulos, managing director of aged care training and consultancy organisation LPA, said pushing back the start date would be delaying the inevitable.

However, she agreed there were significant financial, ICT and workforce ramifications for providers.

“All the elements of the reform changes announced are what we’ve been anticipating and expecting. But we don’t think home care providers have enough information to make sound decisions until we have the pricing information from the Independent Hospital and Aged Care Pricing Authority,” Ms Poulos told AAA.  

LPA would support a 12-month preparation window from the date that the Aged Care Act receives royal ascent, she said.

COTA Australia chief executive Patricia Sparrow spoke to AAA about the “repeated delays” to the Support at Home program.

“COTA Australia wouldn’t support a blanket 12-month delay but would consider supporting tailored timelines for specific, complex elements of implementing the program,” Ms Sparrow said.

“Our focus remains on making sure this program delivers for older Australians, balancing urgency with thoughtful implementation.”

CHA makes 18 recommendations

In all, CHA’s submission includes 11 recommendations in relation to subordinate legislation and the bill’s implementation, including those related to Support at Home above. It also makes seven recommendations to amend Aged Care Bill 2024 including about Code of Conduct penalties, whistleblower protections, and the scope of responsible persons associated with statutory duties.

The latter include to:

• monitor the impact of the funding reform and adjust policy settings when required to ensure a financially sustainable and investable sector
• clearly recognise relevant state and territory guardianship laws.
• remove the direct civil penalty for an aged care worker not complying with the Aged Care Code of Conduct
• remove aged care workers from the list of individuals that can receive disclosures under the whistleblower framework
• exclude operational roles from the description of responsible persons that applies to the statutory duties.
• clarify the relationship between protected information and relevant information so that information management requirements are clear.

UnitingCare Australia highlights uncertainty in home care

Elsewhere in the inquiry about Support at Home, UnitingCare Australia’s submission said provisions in the bill could be inadequate due to the “significant uncertainty” in the detail and implementation of the home care program.

The network representing Uniting Church providers called for the Department of Health and Aged Care to provide “clear information” on the costings and management phasings. It also recommended restricting grandfathering in home care to three years.

Other recommendations include:

• an additional 20,000 Home Care Packages this financial year
• funding for an additional 40,000 people to enter the Support at Home Program in financial year 2025-26
• support for assessment providers to quickly stand up the required assessment workforce.

The Senate committee is holding publis hearings in Newcastle, Melbourne and Perth this week. Published submissions are available on the inquiry’s page.

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