Announcement date
09/05/23
Link to announcement
https://budget.gov.au/
Problem being addressed
There are currently two main assessment pathways to determine the needs of people entering aged care: Regional Assessment Services (RASs), and Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs). People whose needs appear minor when they register for aged care are assessed by a RAS, while people whose needs are more complex are assessed by ACATs. In addition, residential funding assessments are undertaken by a third set of assessment organisations.
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (the Royal Commission) found the dual assessment system can be overly complex and inefficient for people entering aged care. It recommended a single comprehensive assessment process as an entry-point for all people accessing aged care services.
Proposal
The proposed reforms would streamline the assessment pathway for the 470,000 older people who enter aged care each year such that all assessment organisations can assess for all aged care services as well as conducting residential funding assessments. This will involve expanding the role of existing assessment organisations through direct negotiations with States and Territories on the role of ACATs, and a limited tender with Regional Assessment Organisations and AN-ACC assessment providers.
To ensure cultural safety, Indigenous-specific assessment organisations will be established to conduct aged care assessments of First Nations people with the new organisations expected to be established across 2024-25. Assessors across all organisations will also have undertaken training in cultural safety and trauma-informed approaches.
The proposed reforms will commence on 1 July 2024.
Assessed Impact Analysis outcome
Independent review
Assessment comments
The Department of Health and Aged Care has chosen to certify the Royal Commission as having undertaken a process and analysis equivalent to an Impact Analysis. It also provided supplementary analysis on the implementation and evaluation plans for the proposed reforms. In these circumstances, the Office of Impact Analysis does not assess the quality of the analysis provided.
The OIA has determined the Independent Review and supplementary analysis are relevant to the recommended options.
Regulatory burden
$4.34 million