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If you are planning to provide aged care services as an aged care provider, it is important to understand the various types of funding available to you. This can go a long way in assisting you as an aged care provider to ensure your services are sustainable and accessible to customers. This article outlines the types of funding available to you as an aged care provider.
Subsidies
Commonwealth Home Support Program
The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) is an entry-level support program that aims to help older people live independently in their homes and communities.
If you intend to provide CHSP services, you may receive funding from the Government through grant agreements. You must have a publicly available client contribution policy that outlines how you determine your customer fees. You are also not allowed to deny services to a customer if they cannot contribute to the cost of the services. As the service provider, you must also:
- work with the older person to develop their care plan based on their support needs;
- support the older person to keep doing things for themselves where they can do so safely;
- review support services every 12 months to make sure they are meeting needs; and
- meet quality standards.
There are specific services that you can provide under the CHSP.
Home Care Package
The Home Care Package (HCP) is designed for people requiring more complex care beyond CHSP. They offer services in the same categories:
- meal assistance;
- nursing and allied health care;
- more complex home modifications;
- personal care; and
- domestic assistance.
Only approved providers can receive subsidies from the Government through the HCP.
If you are an approved provider:
- you can set prices for each of your HCP services. The services can be provided in-house or subcontracted to other organisations;
- you must work with the person receiving care to plan their care and services; and
- you must use a person’s HCP funding to pay for the services and ensure that the customer has enough funding to cover the planned services in their care plan.
It is important to note that the customer receives the Home Care Package, not you as the service provider. This allows customers to choose a provider in their area that best meets their needs.
The Government also provides a manual on the HCP for providers, which provides further helpful information.
Supplements
The Government includes supplement amounts in subsidy or grant payments. The purpose of supplements is to help cover the cost of meeting specific care needs. There is a list of all aged care supplements available. Each supplement may apply to a certain care type and have specific eligibility requirements.
For example, there was a daily fee supplement for residents in permanent residential care on 1 July 2012 who did not have an age or service pension, a seniors supplement or a seniors health card. However, this supplement is not available for respite care, and there are other conditions that a service provider will have to meet to be eligible for this supplement.
Capital Grants
The Government offers the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP), which provides grants to support aged care infrastructure projects such as building, extending or upgrading aged care facilities or providing staff accommodation.
The ACCAP targets thin market settings for people:
- from First Nation communities;
- living in regional, rural and remote areas;
- who are homeless or at risk of being homeless; or
- with other complex and diverse needs, including dementia.
It is recommended to use these grants to support specific initiatives, particularly related to infrastructure. This option is worth considering if you already provide services but would like to upgrade certain facilities.
This factsheet explains how the ACLA works and how you can sponsor talent into your aged care business.
Key Takeaways
Knowing the types of funding that you can apply for before you provide aged care services is essential. This allows you to plan to offer appropriate services to the audience you plan to reach out to. It is also important to understand this, especially where some funding only applies to approved providers.
If you require advice on the aged care services you intend to provide or the types of funding that will suit the services you plan to offer, our experienced Aged Care and Home Care lawyers can assist as part of our LegalVision membership. For a low monthly fee, you will have unlimited access to lawyers to answer your questions and draft and review your documents. Call us today on 1300 544 755 or visit our membership page.
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