Impact of ACFI cuts far greater than estimated by Government
A new report has highlighted that the impact of the ACFI cuts is far greater than is estimated by the Government and the cuts will affect the care of frail older Australians as well as the long-term viability of residential care providers.
ACSA CEO Adj Prof John Kelly
In response to the report, Aged & Community Services Australia (ACSA) calls for the next Government of Australia to immediately halt the proposed Budget funding cuts to aged care.
The Ansell report is the result of a clinical and financial review by Ansell Strategic of aged care services in every State and Territory as requested by UnitingCare Australia (UCA), Aged & Community Services Australia (ACSA) and Catholic Health Australia (CHA).
“The Ansell report found the full implementation of the changes to ACFI would decrease annual funding per resident by an average of $6,655 – that is 11 percent,” says ACSA chief executive officer Adj Prof John Kelly.
“This will have a considerable impact on the care that can be provided to those with the most complex care needs in areas such as such as pain and medication management.”
According to Adj Prof John Kelly, the Ansell report indicates that the proposed funding cuts have been significantly underestimated by the Government, with the cost of the cuts expected to be in excess of $2.5 billion over the next four years alone, nearly $840 million more than the Government’s forward estimates.
“The proposed changes are to Complex Health Care funding and directly impacts on the care of the frailest residents in residential aged care. We are talking about services, care and support for some of our most vulnerable citizens – in areas such as pain and medication management.
“We cannot accept the impact these cuts will have on old, frail people and those who provide the services to care for them,” Adj Prof John Kelly says.
He says the cuts must be halted and there should be a comprehensive review of the modelling, with full engagement of the sector.
“A taskforce must be established to review the aged care funding process with a view to establishing a more sustainable model which provides certainty for providers, residents and their families and long-term affordability for taxpayers; and there should be an evaluation of the relative costs of providing care to frail aged people in nursing homes,” Adj Prof John Kelly continues.
“Anyone in any doubt about what it takes, what it costs and the time involved in administering complex health care need only spend a few hours in a residential care facility.”
ACSA is campaigning to keep the funding required to support our old and frail people through the ACSA’s Old, frail and Invisible Federal Election campaign.
For more information about the campaign and what the cuts will mean for elderly Australians in our care visit: www.agedcare.org.au/acsa-federal-campaign.
