National Aged Care Alliance Meeting 1st and 2nd of May
ACFA Presentation with Lynda O’Grady
· Aged Care Financial Authority Presentation
· Independent Advisory Body to Government, not a policy group
· Consultative with stakeholders with views relayed to govt. Evidence and Fact Based
· Key Findings from F11-12 Year.
o 70% of Industry profitable, 84% of industry with +ve EBITDA
o 180,000 at the time of F11-12. Based upon projections, 74000 new RACF places required over the next 10 years needing $25b in new capital.
o RACF Funding Breakdown 71% (~$8.7b) Funded by Commonwealth and 29% (~$3.5b) funded by residents.
· Work Program 2014-16 Continue monitoring of RACF setting with expansion of monitoring to include home care.
· 2nd Annual Report 2014 due in June for F12-13. Home Care, access and quality to feature.
· F13-14 Report to provide financial data of CDC packages including administration, case management, list of services, negotiation and contracting of services, monthly reporting, training changes.
Session with Minister Fifield
· Introduction:
o Age care core business for govt
o Current reforms that are imminent need to be bedded down before other reforms come through.
o NRCP funding renewed
o ACAR in May
o Appointment of Quality Agency CEO
o Age care breakfast in Vic with Kevin Andrews, will be doing similar in different states
o 1st Meeting of Aged Care Sector Committee soon.
o Importance of Communication Strategy with DSS. Will have more to say “shortly”
o Is in close consultation with ACFA.
o Quality Indicators 1st of July won’t be a starting date, wants to explore link between indicators and accreditation. Pressure Injuries, Restraints and Unintended weight loss will be included. QI will be voluntary.
o Workforce Supplement, announcement of what will be done with funds around budget time.
NACA Questions
· Age Care and Commission of Audit
o Nothing foreseen as dramatic
· Communication Activities regarding Gateway
o Referred to DSS colleagues, see session with DSS.
· Ministers View on Quality Indicators, due to delay past July 2014
o Met with NRMA re consumer feedback measurements. Is a place for this as a QI, but key to not be seen as favouring particular organisations
o Emphasis in providing meaningful QI but aren’t onerous in nature for providers.
· Impact of short (4 week time) frame around HSP discussion paper release May/June.
o May be scope to increase length of time for consultation.
· Interface disability and age care.
o Recognised as important.
o Is seeking clarification to the difference between NDIS and Age Care Supports. What is the Gap? Feels Gap isn’t as big as is being made out.
· Post 1 July Reform
o Age Care Sector Committee to be a key part and advise on any revisions to timelines.
o Ultimate “holy grail” is end of rationing.
· HACC Service changes Commonwealth vs State
o Vic HACC unique and discussions ongoing with bringing it under Commonwealth with other states (except WA)
· QI has fallen behind, consumers expect if they pay more, they should get a better experience. However Consumer Experience still not seen as a QI
o Would like to see accreditation lead monitoring this.
o Recognises in finding a tool and finding a means of objectively measuring this.
· Anything NACA could be working on, Minister’s focus over the next couple of years.
o Age Care and Disability interface, what are the gaps?
o Carers and their support in general
Session with the Department of Social Services
· Communication Strategy for 1 July 2014
o Tricky around budget time for comms
o General thinking to have materials to prompt consumers to go to My Age Care Website.
o Consumer material will have a more My Age Care branding than Living Longer Living Better
o Provider Communication: In addition to factsheets, roadshows, etc. Will update residential care manual “Guide to Age Care Law” will replace residential care manual to take into account changes occurring 1 July 2014. Will be available online and focus on Home Care and RACF settings.
o Regional areas will be visits as part of national roadshows. Webinar and Video to supplement face to face roadshow. Slides will appear on DSS website.
o Targeted material to assessors (e.g. ACAT) and financial planners.
o FAQ Section summarising reforms will be on DSS websites
o Roadshow presentation will be tested to an audience prior to traveling roadshow
o Confusion on websites: My Age Care Website: Service Focused and Fees information Currently LLLB: Website for Reforms will transition to the DSS website.
· Fee Estimator Online
o Home Care and Residential Versions, Available by 1 July 2014
o Will be available publicly to all consumers and providers.
· Gateway
o Standardised Assessment Pathway and Record.
o Gateways is being built in house by DSS
o Triage and screening over the phone and may result in referral to a service, If more follow up is needed even for simple follow up a face to face assessment will occur. Major shift in thinking.
o IT built 2014, Live test it for 6 months 1 Jan 2015 in selected locations. Full roll out 1 July 2015.
o Due to increase in need of face to face assessors, will need to review who does this and how. ACATs and other existing assessment resources likely to be engaged.
o
· Home Support Program
o Consolidate NRCP, Day Therapy, HACC and other funded non Home Care community programs. HSP design paper to be released very soon.
o Paper has been sent in draft form to working group
o Key Features include components from NACA recommendation papers on Respite, Home Support Program, and Assessment.
o Block funding will be in place for perceived future.
o Focus in restorative care and wellness.
o Nationally consistent fees policy.
· Quality Indicators
o Restraints, unexplained weight loss and pressure injuries are the three indicators that will be first used, modelled from Victoria.
o Concerns lack of clinical input into decision making of QI.
· Fee Estimator Online
o Home Care and Residential Versions, Available by 1 July 2014
National Disability Services with Ken Baker
· In summary, many synergies between workforce issues between Age Care and Disability. Definite scope for collaboration between sectors.
Aged Care Reform Update
Communication Strategy
· DSS’s Communication Strategy to consumers is a major issue. Many changes coming into effect July 2014.
· Concerns that if you don’t have a computer your ability to calculate approx. fee and access my age care website is a big gap, only option is phone call.
· NACA consensus to see Fee Calculator be public earlier
· “Guide to Age Care Law” release end of July, which is after July 1, 2014 when the changes are implemented.
· Key issues, lack of info, timelines no appropriate and lack of consultation with sector, clients, carers and other stakeholder
Home Care CDC
· Encouraging providers to log issues with DSS. Low volume being logged.
Gateway
· Will be pushed the key driver in directing people to My Age Care Website.
· Gateway: Consultation and Roadshow around the country. Jan 2015 two trial sites end to end for My Age Care Website.
Quality Indicators
· Confusion over Minister comments of voluntary opt in with three QIs with the intention for these to be linked to accreditation. QIs are voluntary with accreditation compulsory.
· Letter regarding QI issues will be sent to DSS.
Specified Care and Services
· “Guide to Age Care Law” will replace Residential Care Manual and include other reform changes and Home Care.
Home Support Program
· Focus on Reablement. To tap into network of specialist restorative services via HACC.
· Regional Assessment Services to be establish/tapping into current assessment services e.g. ACAT
· Home Support Program discussion paper due out for consultation very soon. Advisory Group has viewed a draft, 80% of NACA recommendations adopted.
Internal NACA Working Groups Update
· Ageing and Disability Interface Working group has met once.
· Red Tape Group has met an identified ~50 red tape items.