Home Care Packages Program 1
Key points – Home Care Packages • More packages • Four levels • Existing clients transitioned to new program • No Agreements required • Single list of care and services
Home Care Packages Program • Commence from 1 August 2013 • Program replaces the existing Community Packaged Care Programs – CACPs, EACH and EACHD packages • New guidelines apply to all Home Care Packages, not just the new ones • CDC 3
Four levels of home care packages • Four levels of packages: – Home Care Level 1 – a new package to support people with basic care needs – Home Care Level 2 – a package to support people with low level care needs, similar to the former CACPs – Home Care Level 3 – a new package to support people with intermediate care needs – Home Care Level 4 – a package to support people with high care needs, similar to the former EACH package 4
Transitional arrangements • From 1 August 2013: – CACP packages will become Home Care Level 2 – EACH packages will become Home Care Level 4 – EACH-D packages will become Home Care Level 4 (plus additional supplements will apply to existing EACHD consumers) • Existing CACP, EACH and EACHD consumers (as at 31 July 2013) will continue to receive home care services, at an equivalent level of funding, from 1 August 2013. 5
ACAT assessment • To be eligible for a package, a person needs to be assessed by an ACAT • “broadbanded” approval – Home Care Level 1 or 2 – Home Care Level 3 or 4 • The home care provider: – decides whether they can offer a package to a consumer – determines which package level is appropriate within the broadband 6
Consumer Directed Care (CDC) • From 1 August 2013: – all new packages must be delivered on a CDC basis • From 1 July 2015: – all packages, including packages in existence before 1 August 2013, must be delivered on a CDC basis • Providers with existing packages can convert to CDC earlier than July 2015 if they wish 7
CDC – Decision making and care planning • Under CDC, the consumer: – has ownership of decision-making – is encouraged to identify goals – can decide the level of involvement they want in managing their package – must be allowed to exercise choice in the way that services are offered and delivered 8
CDC – Individualised budget and statements • Under CDC, the consumer must be provided with: – an individualised budget – a monthly statement of income and expenditure • A consumer may also choose to top-up their package by purchasing additional services through their home care provider • Unspent funds carry forward from month to month and year to year for as long as the consumer continues to receive services under the package 9
Excluded items Using package funds as a general source of income for the consumer • Purchase of food, except as part of enteral feeding • Payment for permanent accommodation, e.g. rent or mortgage payments • Payment of home care fees • Payment of fees or charges for other types of care funded or jointly • funded by the Australian Government Home modifications or capital items that are not related to care needs • Travel and accommodation for holidays • Cost of entertainment activities, e.g. club memberships and tickets to • sporting events Payment for services and items covered by the MBS or the PBS • Gambling or illegal activities • 10
Consumer care fees • From 1 August 2013: – no changes to previous arrangements – consumer can be asked to pay a care fee • From 1 July 2014: – new income testing arrangements will apply – subsidy payable by the Government will be reduced according to the income tested fee payable – will not affect existing home care consumers – further information will be available over the coming months 11
Leave provisions • Leave arrangements will be the same across all package levels • More consistent rules across the different types of leave 12
Evaluation • The Home Care Packages Program, including the CDC arrangements, will be evaluated during the first two years – to consider the impact on: – consumers, carers and family members – provider operations – assessment processes – interface with other programs – the effectiveness of the new arrangements in providing a continuum of care, as well as choice and flexibility 13
Further information • www.livinglongerlivingbetter.gov.au – Home Care Packages Program Guidelines – Fact sheets for consumers, including existing CACP, EACH and EACHD consumers – Overview of changes – Questions and answers • www.myagedcare.gov.au or 1800 200 422 Any questions?
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