Post by Banker on Apr 20, 2012 13:02:43 GMT 7
A break-down of the key measures and funding behind the aged care reforms announced by the government.
A $3.7 billion package of measures over five years:
$1.9 billion for better access to aged-care services.
$1.2 billion to strengthen the aged-care workforce.
$268.4 million for dementia.
$54.8 million to support carers.
Home care:
Home Care subsidy package to be means tested from July 1, 2014; 'care fee' to be introduced.
Family home will be exempt from means testing.
Means testing to reduce government funding of package from 84 per cent to 76 per cent.
Recipients to pay basic fee of up to 17.5 per cent of the single basic pension.
Full pensioners won't pay care fee.
Indexed caps of $5000 and $10,000 will apply to care fees of part pensioners and self-funded retires respectively, together with lifetime indexed cap of $60,000.
Care fee cannot be greater than cost of care.
80,000 new home-care packages by 2021/22.
Annual government subsidy will range from $7500 to $45,000.
$880.1 million over next five years to expand home care.
On July 1, 2015, HACC Program, the National Respite for Carers Program, Day Therapy Centres and the Assistance with Care and Housing for the Aged Program will be consolidated under a new Home Support Program.
Home Care Support Program to focus on prevention and re-enablement.
$6.7 billion over five years for HACC Program for older people.
$3 billion over five years for joint state-commonwealth Home and Community Care Program in Victoria and Western Australia.
More than $5.8 billion over five years for home care packages supporting 58,000 packages a year.
More than $1 billion over five years for the National Respite for Carers Program.
Hardship Supplement for residential care to be extended to Home Care packages.
$73.5 million to integrate Home and Community Care (HACC) program with other commonwealth programs to create and grow a new Home Support program.
About 4900 new Home Care packages offered through 2012-13 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR).
Residential care:
From July 1, 2014, residents can choose to pay accommodation costs through fully refundable lump sum or a rental style periodic payment, or a combination of the two.
From July 1, 2014 means testing arrangements will be tightened by combining current income and asset tests.
New means-testing measures will mean people with same level of income and assets as other residents will pay the same fee.
$486.9 million to increase the accommodation supplement government pays on behalf of residents who can't meet all or some of their accommodation costs.
Government will remove distinction between low and high care.
Providers won't be able to choose people based on how person intends to pay for accommodation.
Residents will be able to decide how they will pay once in care.
$65.4 million to enable residents to access additional services in aged-care homes.
Consumer Direct Care to be trialled in aged-care centres in 2013/14, to give people greater say over delivery of care.
Aged Care Funding Instrument to be refined, to ensure funding claimed by providers better matches level of care being offered.
Other measures:
$192 million over five years to support people from diverse background accessing age care.
$39.8 million for consumer support and research.
$256.4 million through Aged Care Reform package.
$26.4 million to establish new Aged Care Financing Authority.
$16.6 million for greater transparency, including establishment of My Aged Care website.
www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/at-a-glance-aged-care-reforms/story-fn59niix-1226334312515
A $3.7 billion package of measures over five years:
$1.9 billion for better access to aged-care services.
$1.2 billion to strengthen the aged-care workforce.
$268.4 million for dementia.
$54.8 million to support carers.
Home care:
Home Care subsidy package to be means tested from July 1, 2014; 'care fee' to be introduced.
Family home will be exempt from means testing.
Means testing to reduce government funding of package from 84 per cent to 76 per cent.
Recipients to pay basic fee of up to 17.5 per cent of the single basic pension.
Full pensioners won't pay care fee.
Indexed caps of $5000 and $10,000 will apply to care fees of part pensioners and self-funded retires respectively, together with lifetime indexed cap of $60,000.
Care fee cannot be greater than cost of care.
80,000 new home-care packages by 2021/22.
Annual government subsidy will range from $7500 to $45,000.
$880.1 million over next five years to expand home care.
On July 1, 2015, HACC Program, the National Respite for Carers Program, Day Therapy Centres and the Assistance with Care and Housing for the Aged Program will be consolidated under a new Home Support Program.
Home Care Support Program to focus on prevention and re-enablement.
$6.7 billion over five years for HACC Program for older people.
$3 billion over five years for joint state-commonwealth Home and Community Care Program in Victoria and Western Australia.
More than $5.8 billion over five years for home care packages supporting 58,000 packages a year.
More than $1 billion over five years for the National Respite for Carers Program.
Hardship Supplement for residential care to be extended to Home Care packages.
$73.5 million to integrate Home and Community Care (HACC) program with other commonwealth programs to create and grow a new Home Support program.
About 4900 new Home Care packages offered through 2012-13 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR).
Residential care:
From July 1, 2014, residents can choose to pay accommodation costs through fully refundable lump sum or a rental style periodic payment, or a combination of the two.
From July 1, 2014 means testing arrangements will be tightened by combining current income and asset tests.
New means-testing measures will mean people with same level of income and assets as other residents will pay the same fee.
$486.9 million to increase the accommodation supplement government pays on behalf of residents who can't meet all or some of their accommodation costs.
Government will remove distinction between low and high care.
Providers won't be able to choose people based on how person intends to pay for accommodation.
Residents will be able to decide how they will pay once in care.
$65.4 million to enable residents to access additional services in aged-care homes.
Consumer Direct Care to be trialled in aged-care centres in 2013/14, to give people greater say over delivery of care.
Aged Care Funding Instrument to be refined, to ensure funding claimed by providers better matches level of care being offered.
Other measures:
$192 million over five years to support people from diverse background accessing age care.
$39.8 million for consumer support and research.
$256.4 million through Aged Care Reform package.
$26.4 million to establish new Aged Care Financing Authority.
$16.6 million for greater transparency, including establishment of My Aged Care website.
www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/at-a-glance-aged-care-reforms/story-fn59niix-1226334312515