The Department of Health has sent out a link to the test website – which will go live “in the coming weeks” – seeking feedback from providers.
You can check the test site HERE.
The Government has spent $3.5 million a month for the last 18 months to re-develop the site to be more consumer-friendly with new features including:
- A new layout;
- Greater use of white space for people with vision impairments;
- An easier to find service finder; and
- More transparent pricing information.
Most of the pricing information we searched for however was still missing.
Transparency on home care pricing has been a sticking point for My Aged Care over the last year.
As we covered here, then-Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt issued a warning to providers in July 2018 after it was found just 15% had their pricing listed on My Aged Care, while only 40% had a website link – some not linking directly to a pricing schedule.
Many providers also missed a mandatory deadline to publish their pricing information by 30 November 2018.
The site itself has been the subject of complaints by residents, families, providers and health professionals since it launched in July 2014.
During the March hearings for the Royal Commission, then-Senior Counsel Assisting Dr Timothy McEvoy QC highlighted accessing My Aged Care as one of seven priority areas for the Commission.
Will the new site help to silence the critics?
