The Government has announced it will invest $287 million over three years to bring forward 5,000 level 3 and 5,000 level 4 packages as part of the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO).
The new packages will now be released progressively through to 30 June 2019.
In total, over $550 million in extra funding for aged care has been promised including:
- $56.4 million over four years to cut the maximum daily fees for some home care packages;
- $111.2 million over four years for a 30% increase in the viability and homelessness supplements for residential aged care providers; and
- $90 million to support GPs visiting regional aged care facilities.
Announcing the funding, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said: “Even as the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety goes about its important work, our commitment to improving care for older Australians will continue at full pace.”
They will have their work cut out for them. As we covered here, there are now over 126,000 older Australians waiting for home care – 10,000 new packages will not go far.
