Certainty for home support programme
The federal government has taken two decisions to provide certainty for Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) clients and providers.
Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Mitch Fifield.
The federal government has taken two decisions to provide certainty for Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) clients and providers.
CHSP funding agreements will be extended to 30 June 2018, to coincide with the 2015 Budget decision to merge the CHSP and Home Care Packages programme from July 2018 to create an integrated care at home programme.
This funding will ensure three years of certainty worth more than $1.6 billion annually for CHSP providers.
Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Mitch Fifield, has also decided – having taken on board community feedback and in light of the Budget announcement – to put new home care arrangements in in place from 2018 – not to proceed with a mandatory national fees policy for CHSP from 1 July 2015.
Under changes initiated by the previous government, a national mandatory fees policy for the CHSP programme was proposed to bring greater consistency to the varying fee arrangements nationwide.
A CHSP National Fees Policy Consultation Paper was circulated throughout the industry in December to facilitate discussion.
“Having listened to the feedback, I have decided instead of a mandatory fees policy, I will look to a fees framework which outlines principles providers can adopt in setting and implementing their fees, leading to greater consistency and fairness,” Senator Fifield says.
This will prevent fees from exceeding the cost of the service and ensure there is a safety net for those who need it.
The new fees framework will enable providers to move their fee charging practices towards national consistency over time.
“My Department will also work with the sector to develop a national guide for providers and consumers which describes the current varying fee arrangements in order to make them more transparent,” he says.
Senator Fifield describes this as an important resource to assist providers setting their fees and consumers choosing services.
He adds the government will also work closely with stakeholders to design and implement the integrated care at home programme for 2018.
Find out more information on the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).
