Peak body Aged Care Industry Association has welcomed the re-election of the Albanese Labor Government but called on the incoming aged care minister to take urgent action on Commwealth Home Support Program assessments, which need to be completed by 30 June for clients to continue accessing government-subsidised services.
ACIA chief executive officer Peter Hoppo clarified to Community Care Review these concerns are in relation to individuals who were grandfathered into the current CHSP program, not the recent concerns raised by peak body Ageing Australia regarding the service agreement rules.
While Mr Hoppo said the sector supports the intention to bring all clients into the aged care system, he believes there is a risk unassessed clients could fall through the cracks, despite accessing services for many years.
“The feedback we’re hearing is that providers are nervous not everyone will be reached in time. While the government’s extra support for the My Aged Care call centre and assessment teams is welcome, the timeframe is tight and it’s still unclear how many people are yet to be assessed. There’s real concern that some older Australians could miss out on the help they need if assessments aren’t completed before 30 June,” Mr Hoppo told CCR.
“Councils are likely to have the most affected clients because many have long supported grandfathered clients, who never registered through My Aged Care. These include services like domestic help, transport, and meals. I’ve heard concerns from local government providers that some of these clients may be missed in the transition, especially with time running out.”
He warned many older Australians currently receiving CHSP services may not even be aware they are at risk, as it can be challenging to reach some groups of older people – especially those who’ve been receiving services for years and may not realise anything is changing.
“Providers are doing all they can, but with the deadline fast approaching, we need to make sure no one misses out because they didn’t receive the message or couldn’t navigate the process,” he said.
ACIA has called for the government to work closely with providers to ensure:
- additional assessment capacity is available and directed toward high-priority clients
- clear, accessible communication campaigns reach all unregistered clients, especially in culturally and linguistically diverse communities
- contingency arrangements allow providers to continue delivering services, at least in the short term, until all clients have been assessed or are confirmed to be in the process
“No one should go without essential care because of paperwork or delays. We urge the government to prioritise continuity of support and provide practical solutions so providers can keep caring for those who need it during the transition to the new Act,” said Mr Hoppo.
A letter template for unassessed CHSP clients can be found here and a fact sheet on supporting unregistered and unassessed CHSP clients can be found here.
There is also a copy of the letter sent by the Department of Health and Aged Care on how providers can support their unregistered and unassessed CHSP clients available here.
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