Aged Care Reform
COTA urges faster aged care assessments, interim funding safeguards
Aged Care Reform
COTA urges faster aged care assessments, interim funding safeguards
COTA Australia · 3 min read · 7 hours ago
Original source
Summarised by Stellar
Key points5 points
- COTA Australia is advocating for a 30-day maximum from assessment to service delivery for aged care recipients.
- The government has introduced changes to strengthen human oversight of assessments, but COTA wants clear pathways and timeframes for reassessment when concerns arise.
- COTA is calling for legislation to cap the duration of interim Support at Home funding and require public reporting on interim package numbers and wait times.
- The classification system review must assess whether each funding level still buys the intended care at current service prices.
- Providers should monitor upcoming policy changes that may affect assessment timelines and funding allocations.
Summary
COTA Australia has responded to a Four Corners investigation by renewing calls for faster aged care assessments and reduced wait times. The advocacy body wants a 30-day guarantee from assessment to service delivery, stronger human oversight of algorithm-driven classification decisions, and legislative limits on how long older Australians can remain on interim funding packages. COTA also demands transparency on interim package numbers and wait times, and a review of whether current funding classifications still purchase the intended care at today's prices. Providers should prepare for potential tightening of assessment processes and increased scrutiny of funding adequacy.