Policy and Procedure Updates

As part of the royal commission we will see the following changes implemented in all residential aged care including:

Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC)
The Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) will replace the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) from 1 October 2022. The AN-ACC care funding model works by applying weightings to the price that reflect variations in the cost of care. This is based on facility characteristics and the needs of individual residents. 
The AN-ACC care funding model will provide:

• funding that better matches resident care needs
• more equitable distribution of funding across the residential aged care sector – including regional, rural and remote services that have higher costs of care delivery through new Base Care Tariffs
• independent assessments of residents’ needs for funding purposes, freeing nurses and care staff from undertaking paperwork
• a new method for annual changes in prices/indexation, informed by independent costing studies and advice
• an equitable model for distributing funding uplifts from 1 October 2022, such as care minutes funding and increases to residential respite funding.

Please note this will not impact on the care provided to you or your loved ones. Care planning and assessments will continue to occur in consultation with you and your nominated representative.

Star ratings for residential aged care
The Residential Aged Care Star Ratings are part of the Government’s aged care reform in response to the Royal Commission, and are designed to support consumers to make informed choices about their care. Some of you have already participated in consumer experience surveys which are one of four components to the star rating system for all residential aged care facilities. The other components consist of service compliance, care minutes and quality indicators. This plans to be rolled out by the end of 2022.

Commissioner Letter to consumers
Please find letter from the Commissioner to all aged care consumers which outlines further important changes that will improve the safety and quality of aged care in the link here.

Access Aged Care
For those consumers who have the primary care provider/nominated GP as Access Aged Care, Access Aged Care will individually reach out to you regarding some upcoming administrative changes. They have summarised the changes (HERE) and for the vast majority, there should be nothing other than some paperwork to complete. Please keep an eye out for when they do reach out in the coming days.
 
Please do not call or email us at Ocean Mist Aged Care as we will be unable to assist with any queries regarding these changes.
 
Should you have any queries, please reach out directly to Access Aged Care via:
Phone: 1300 951 014
Email: Consumer.Support@AccessTelehealth.com.au

Please do not hesitate to contact should you have any questions or concerns.

kind regards,
Management

Ocean Mist Aged Care