The rise and ‘fall’ of ACAR
As the Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR) comes into operation for another year the peak body for age service providers, Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) urges the federal government to overhaul the “broken” system.
LASA chief executive, Patrick Reid.
The ACAR leaves thousands of older Australians without the care and services deemed necessary for them, LASA claims.
“Age service providers come second only to the public health system as an industry employer. The majority of providers are small to medium organisations with a great number in regional communities,” Patrick Reid, LASA chief executive, says.
In the 2013 ACAR the Department of Health and Ageing reported excess of 106,000 home care applications were received and only 5,835 were reportedly funded. This means for every 18 applications received only one was granted funding.
“The ACAR is an arduous administrative procedure. LASA advocates for a simpler application process and redress to chronic underfunding demonstrated by such oversubscription,” Mr Reid says.
“ACAR funding forces age service providers to prove their capacity to provide care and services within a predefined geographic location, based on planning data that is constantly ‘out of date’.”
While LASA supports overall reform of the sector, it does not understand how such high levels of unmet need, can be seen in a positive light, Mr Reid says.
“As the peak body LASA is committed to working constructively with government to develop innovative strategies to support the industry and ultimately older Australians.
“The government has acknowledged that older Australians overwhelmingly want to stay in their own home for as long as possible, for many of them this is also the most cost effective method of enhancing wellness.”
According to Mr Reid, age service providers are responding to demonstrated need in the communities they operate within. “They are being stymied by a broken funding system that needs overhauling,” he says.
LASA will meet with Minister for Small Business, Bruce Billson, to discuss the needs of small business age service providers, and develop positive strategies to ensure obligations are met to provide care and services to older Australians who are assessed as requiring them.
Applications for the next ACAR will open from next month 2014.
