Changes to allied health pricing under SaH

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has announced that prices for allied health, nursing services and other therapeutic services can now have billable units for both direct and indirect clinical care under Support at Home.

Peak body Occupational Therapy Australia welcomed this week’s news via LinkedIn, having advocated for this change since the pricing guidelines were released in March.

Initially, the department had stipulated that only face-to-face time spent with a person could be considered a billable unit.

Now, related indirect activities can have a separate unit price, including:

• writing progress notes
• updating patient files
• preparing reports and recommendations
• organising referrals
• participating in case conferencing meetings
• designing individualised care plans and training supports
• designing clinical guides or programs for participants and carers.

If a service provider chooses to have separate unit prices for direct and indirect activities, they will need to claim prices separately against the time delivered for the service, the department noted. Travel costs are not considered an indirect activity and must be included within the unit price for direct activities.

OTA chief occupational therapist Michelle Oliver told Community Care Review: “This decision means that occupational therapists and other allied health professionals can be paid for the full scope of the work that they do supporting older Australians under Support at Home. OTA has been strongly advocating for this important change, and we are thrilled to see that the Department has responded in a way that shows that allied health is a valued and key workforce in Aged Care sector.”

More information on SaH prices for allied health and nursing services can be read here.

A list of SaH pricing resources can be accessed here.

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