Mark Butler (pictured, centre), the Minister for Health and Aged Care, maintains “almost every” residential aged care home operator will be “substantially” better off under the new AN-ACC funding model which comes into force on 1 October.
The AN-ACC price is equal to an average per bed day funding of about $225. This figure is based on analysis of facilities that have had their shadow assessments completed.
“The modelling that I have seen, which follows a range of shadow assessments that were conducted by the Commonwealth Department under the former government, of aged care facilities across the country, show that almost every aged care facility will not only not be worse off, but will be substantially better off by the introduction of this new system of funding than they were under the old system of funding, including the requirement for additional staffing,” Mr Butler said.
“We’re committed to making sure not only that every facility is not worse off, but actually, facilities are better off, so that they can provide better quality of care to older Australians. I’m very confident this new system of funding that was begun by the former government, continued by our government, will do just that.”
AN-ACC, which replaces the Aged Care Funding Instrument and has been developed by the University of Wollongong on the NSW South Coast, aims to provide more equitable care funding to providers that better matches residents’ needs with the costs of delivering care.
Funding for AN-ACC includes $3.9 billion over three years to pay for additional care and to meet the 200 minutes direct care requirement.
It involves independent assessors classifying residents into one of 13 classes using the AN-ACC assessment tool, which considers physical ability, cognitive ability, behaviour and mental health.
