Cut red tape to access delivered meals
Meals on Wheels SA (South Australia) is urging the Australian Government to review the My Aged Care process to make it easier for consumers to access their services.
Meals on Wheels SA CEO Sharyn Broer is calling on the Australian Government to review the My Aged Care process.
According to the community based volunteer organisation the My Aged Care gateway is adding unnecessary red tape and an extra layer of bureaucracy, causing delay in some consumers receiving home support services.
From 1 July 2015, consumers are no longer able to contact home support providers like Meals on Wheels direct for support services such as delivered meals. Instead a person first has to be assessed by My Aged Care to determine their eligibility.
“This has created confusion, lack of clarity for consumers, delays and frustration for potential clients, and their families. We know of recent cases where people have approached the Gateway only to wait 2 months for action,” Meals on Wheels South Australia chief executive officer Sharyn Broer says.
“Research says that red tape is a bugbear to many in the community.
“There is simply no need for another layer of bureaucracy on a simple service like delivered meals. Indeed the reclaimed responsibility for aged care within the health portfolio only reinforces the key issue: A delivered meal is first and foremost a primary health care matter, not an aged care one.
“The ability for the public to call Meals on Wheels direct, to make an enquiry, establish services and determine eligibility for subsidised pricing, was a sensible and cost effective arrangement for providers, the Australian Government and the people who need this valuable community service,” according to Ms Broer.
“The great community value of Meals on Wheels is in keeping people healthy and independent in the community, and out of the aged care system.
“So, after six months of perseverance and continued frustration we ask the Federal Government to review the My Aged Care system,” Ms Broer continues.
“Ask these simple questions: Is this good value for delivered meals? Is it working? Or, is it simply an unnecessary road block to providing cost effective grass roots support to many in the community?”
