A Commentary on the design of the proposed unified program.
Support at Home: a Commentary on the design of the proposed unified program offers a critique of the initial framework for reforms to the delivery of in-home aged care services. It is a response to the Overview paper released by the Department of Health in January 2022 and discusses the strengths and shortcomings of the current proposals.
Key concerns discussed in the Commentary are:
- The need for a clear and consistent set of principles to guide program design
- Ensuring effective accountability within a multi-provider, fee-for-service model
- The impact of service and price lists on transparency and flexibility
- The role of appropriate client contributions within sustainable funding models
READ AND DOWNLOAD ON OPUS AT UTS:
Support at Home: a Commentary on the design of the proposed unified program
On 25 November 2022, UARC submitted its response to the Department of Health and Aged Care's second discussion paper on the design of the new program for in-home aged care. Support at Home: Response to the Department of Health and Aged Care discussion paper (October 2022). addresses the further development of the program design and the specific questions raised by the Department.
Key themes discussed in the Response are:
- Governance arrangements remain under-developed
- The proposed model has unresolved coordination and accountability challenges
- Care partner role should be accountable to the older Australians they support
- A mixed funding model for services is appropriate to support the viability of some services
- The flexible pool proposal needs considerable refinement
- Innovation may be suppressed by inappropriate regulation
READ AND DOWNLOAD ON OPUS AT UTS:
Support at Home: Response to the Department of Health and Aged Care discussion paper (October 2022)