Ageing Australia welcomes the Federal Government’s decision to defer premature price caps for the Support at Home Program, reducing the risks of widespread last-minute changes to service agreements and guaranteeing continuity of care for older Australians.
The Hon Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Ageing and the Hon Sam Rae, Minister for Aged Care and Seniors today announced that Support at Home price caps will be deferred to gather more evidence.
“We welcome this announcement, which recognises the need for evidence-based reform. With no independent costing study completed since the Support at Home program commenced in November, any caps set now would not be able to account for the true cost of delivering quality services. We commend the Government for listening to our concerns and working with us on solutions,” Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson said.
“This is important news for the sector and for older people who rely on home and community care services. It reduces the immediate risk of widespread, last-minute changes to service agreements, reductions in services and reenforces the importance of evidence-based pricing. “
The decision follows sustained and proactive advocacy from Ageing Australia that premature price caps would cause damage to providers and older people and that Government already has clear powers to deal with excessive prices.
“A deferral gives us time to better understand the true cost of delivering services to older people, whatever their needs and wherever they live. This is crucial if we are to avoid the damage caps have done in other sectors where they can drastically reduce access to services, particularly for people with complex needs and those in regional areas,” Mr Symondson said.
“Most importantly, this decision avoids sweeping confusion for providers and older people alike.”
The Government will continue to utilise its existing powers to ensure prices are reasonable and transparent during the deferral period.
“We also welcome participation in the Government’s working group, alongside consumer peak bodies and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, to help establish a more robust definition of “reasonable” pricing and support clearer guidance for providers and consumers.”
