Senate to inquire into Government’s shortfall in aged care funding
The Senate has established an inquiry into the adequacy of funding for the aged care sector on the motion of ACT Senator, Gary Humphries.
The inquiry will investigate funding levels for aged care services, as well as related issues, and is due to report by the first sitting day of April 2009.
A 2005/06 report of the aged care sector pointed to 40% of aged care facilities operating at a deficit, and further figures for subsequent years have yet to be released from the Department of Health and Ageing.
Provisional allocations of bed licences have also been undersubscribed in several states, pointing to a lack of confidence amongst aged care facility operators in the Government’s funding stream.
The inquiry will coincide with the Grant Thornton Aged Care Industry Survey, due for release in October.
