A new ‘Australian Seniors Gateway Agency’ is proposed to “make the aged care system easier to access and navigate” and the report recommends the abolition of the position of aged care commissioner and the many ''unnecessary, complex and burdensome regulations''. It suggests consideration of an Aged Care Division within the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).
This would be aged care’s solo agency, an aged care one stop shop, and a ''gateway'' to the system for consumers, carers and health professionals – the agency would provide access to a range of diverse but linked services – everything from basic information, health assessments to where to find the care needed.
The report also recommends the establishment of a new regulatory agency – the Australian Aged Care Regulation Commission (AACRC). This agency would administer compliance, accreditation, reviews but also recommend the pricing of care and subsidies.
To alleviate the reporting burden on providers, the report recommends a streamlined reporting mechanism, based on Standard Business Reporting and allowing providers to disclose information on request, rather than on demand.
The PC’s report tackles the wider problem of seniors housing and recommends the development of building design standards and suggests that COAG should develop policy framework for providing suitable and cost efficient housing. Retirement villages and seniors specific accommodation would not to be aligned with regulation of aged care under the PC’s recommendations but the report does suggest that national retirement village legislation should be pursued.
To see a rundown of the PC’s draft report recommendations, click here
http://www.thesourcetoday.com.au/p753_PC-draft-report-Key-recommendations-at-a-glance.html
To read the PC’s draft report in full, click here.
http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/aged-care/draft