It feels like October’s just begun and yet there’s been a lot of changes and updates within the sector.
Here’s an overview of what system changes are effective from the 3 October 2022, specifically concerning the SIRS and AN-ACC updates.
Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS)
- From 3 October 2022, residential aged care providers must report occurrences of unlawful sexual contact or inappropriate sexual conduct as a Priority 1 reportable incident under the SIRS. This means that these types of incidents must be reported within 24 hours of the provider becoming aware of the incident.
- The Bulk upload functionality will only be available to report Priority 2 incidents.
- Providers will have the option to report a maximum of six subject of allegations when reporting an incident.
- When reporting an incident, if a provider selects ‘no impact’, a rationale will be required.
AN-ACC (Australian National Aged Care Classification)
The Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) has replaced the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI), with new funding arrangements to take effect automatically.
Assessors
- When conducting comprehensive assessments ACATs will be required to complete the DEMMI tool if recommending residential respite care services. ACATs will no longer be able to recommend residential respite high or residential respite low care.
- ACAT delegates will therefore approve recommendations for a respite care approval.
- ACAT and Residential Funding Assessment (RFA) outlets will receive respite classification assessment referrals. These referrals will be issued to an RFA or ACAT outlet depending on whether the care recipient is receiving services at a residential aged care facility or has returned to the community. Team leads will be able to accept, reject and assign these referrals to assessors.
- ACAT and RFA assessors will be able to conduct residential respite assessments in the myAssessor and AN-ACC apps.
- AN-ACC Classifications are currently displayed in My Aged Care portals after 7 days. This will change to within 7 days.
Residential care service providers:
- With the implementation of AN-ACC, funding will now be based on the care recipient’s respite classification and no longer need to indicate what level of respite care they provide.
- Existing residential respite high and residential respite low services will be replaced by a single residential respite service. To aid in the transition existing information from residential respite high or low services will be utilised. Providers should confirm the information accurately reflects their respite service via the Service and Support portal.
- Will be able to view a care recipient’s respite classification and request respite reclassifications.
- Will be able to request reconsiderations of AN-ACC classification decisions.
- Will receive notifications about AN-ACC classification decisions resulting from reclassification or reconsideration of AN-ACC classifications.
- AN-ACC Classifications are currently displayed in My Aged Care portals after 7 days. This will change to within 7 days. Care recipients, representatives, agents and support organisations.
- Care recipients who have not been assigned a respite classification and are currently approved for residential respite low care will be assigned a 101 classification. Those approved for residential respite high care will be assigned a 102 classification.
- MAC online account users will receive notifications about AN-ACC classification decisions resulting from reclassification or reconsideration of AN-ACC classifications.
- Can view a care recipient’s current and previous residential respite and permanent classifications. Newly assigned classifications will be visible within 7 days of the assessment being completed.
All guidance material for AN-ACC residential aged care funding reform is available on the Department of Health and Aged Care Website here Residential aged care funding reform, Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
This information was provided by the My Aged Care. For my information and details, please read the original document here.
