Don’t ‘drop the ball’ on reform
Better quality, choice and dignity for older Australians may need to wait after legislation enabling aged care reform to start on 1 July was not put to the vote in the House of Representatives this week.
Better quality, choice and dignity for older Australians may need to wait after legislation enabling aged care reform to start on 1 July was not put to the vote in the House of Representatives this week.
COTA chief executive, Ian Yates, said the reforms, due to begin 1 July, were critical to improving the lives of older people and “reshaping” aged care in Australia.
“Overall, these reforms are the first step towards a fairer and more sustainable aged care system which it is essential we get to, given the ageing of our population,” Mr Yates said.
Reforms, due to begin 1 July, are expected to ensure more people are cared for in their own homes and may give older people more say in the types of care and support they receive, and how and when their services are delivered, and who provides them.
Aged care providers are also expected to receive greater levels of funding for accommodation and care with higher accommodation subsidies and allowable fees, the ability to receive lump sum bonds for residents in high care, extra levels of home care packages, and supplements for conditions like dementia.
The legislation must be passed before 27 June as it will be the ‘last sitting’ date before the federal election, Mr Yates said.
“The whole sector has been gearing up on this basis and providers have applied for new residential beds and home care packages in the latest Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR) based on the new policies and higher charges being in place,” he added.
As the Bills did not pass the House of Representatives this week, Mr Yates claimed it would mean a “very tight window” for the legislation to pass through a Senate Committee Inquiry and both houses by 27 June.
“The federal government must guarantee it will not drop the ball on these reforms and they are dealt with as the highest priority in the Budget session.”
