More from The Senior's special report on the problems with consumer directed care....
Aged Care Minister Sussan Ley took the next step in the reform process, introducing legislation that will allocate package funding directly to the consumer from February 2017 and allow people to move away from poor providers.
The changes are expected to improve provider performance by giving consumers the power to carry their package funds to the provider who can best meet their needs, and to shift the funds to another provider as they choose.
As it stands, packages are allocated to providers, and consumers need to find a provider in their area who has the correct level of package. Many face long waiting lists to access the correct level of care.
COTA chief executive Ian Yates said the new system would help people move away from poor providers. “What we need to do is get as fast as we can to full portability,” he said.
“A lot of what we are dealing with now are transitional issues.
“This is about increasing choice and control for older people – a step toward implementation of the Productivity Commission’s recommendations for a fully consumer-focused and controlled system.
“It moves us towards a more competitive aged care environment where providers will have to prove their worth, increasing competition and improving quality of service delivery.
“Most aged care service providers try to do the right thing by their consumers, and many succeed. “However, there are big problems with some providers not following the requirements of the consumer-directed care model in place since July 2015.”
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