Frequently asked questions

Please note these questions will be updated as the new themes emerge from consultations through various communication mechanisms – updated May 2012.

Question

Response
How is information about the reforms being disseminated? Information on the reforms will be disseminated through the regional forums and peak body networks, establishment of a mailbox for queries and feedback, state and Commonwealth websites, publications and newsletters, fact sheets and media releases.

 

Feedback from HACC service providers regarding issues which affect the development of the new Disability and Community Care system is an essential strategy in the implementation for the national health reforms. Specific questions or comments in relation to national health reforms and changes to the roles and responsibilities for aged care and disability services can be forwarded to:
HACC_NGO_COAG@communities.qld.gov.au
Where can I find more information on the reforms? The department has established a website where information will be updated on a regular basis during the course of the reforms. 

 

Australia wide information on HACC related national health reforms can be accessed at the yourHealth website.
What effect does the National Health Reform Agreement of August 2011 have on the reforms? The National Health Reform Agreement implements the Heads of Agreement on national health reforms signed by all governments in February 2011. The National Health Reform Agreement supersedes the National Health and Hospitals Network Agreement announced by the Council of Australian Governments in April 2010.

 

The new National Health Reform Agreement maintains the commitment for changes to the roles and responsibilities for community care services currently provided through the Home and Community Care program.  The main differences between the National Health Reform Agreement and the previous agreements relate to changes in the funding arrangements for the broader health services. Further information on the new National Health Reform Agreement is available at the yourHealth website as the primary national source of information on national health reforms.

 

Changes to the roles and responsibilities for aged care and disability services

Question

Response
What are the roles of the State/Commonwealth governments in relation to the HACC program in Queensland? Simply put, the administration and funding for the HACC Program will be split by age. As part of these changes services to both older people and people under 65 years will continue.

 

Queensland Government through the department will be responsible for funding and administering a disability and community care system for people under the age of 65 (under 50 for Indigenous Australians).  This system will include HACC services for this target group and is expected to provide more streamlined disability services.

The Commonwealth will fund and administer HACC services for people 65 years and over (50 years and over for Indigenous Australians). These services are expected to be integrated into a consistent and unified national aged care system.

The implementation of the reforms is being progressed in partnership with government and non-government sectors.
Who will be responsible for HACC and related programs? Changes to HACC and related programs are a component of the major health reforms being implemented throughout Australia.
State responsibility
From 1 July 2011 the States will assume:

 

  • funding and program responsibility for basic community care services currently delivered under HACC for people under 65 years of age (under 50 for Indigenous Australians) and
  • funding packaged community and residential aged care services for people under the age of 65 (under 50 for Indigenous Australians).

Commonwealth responsibility
From 1 July 2011 the Commonwealth will assume:

  • funding and program responsibility for basic community care services currently delivered under HACC for people 65 years and over (50 years and over for indigenous Australians)
  • funding responsibility for specialist disability services provided under the National Disability Agreement for people aged 65 years and over (50 years and over for Indigenous Australians).

Shared responsibility
From 1 July 2011 the Commonwealth and states will:

  • share program responsibility for services currently delivered under HACC for Indigenous Australians aged 50 to 64 years.  Indigenous Australians in this age group will be able to receive services from an appropriate provider under programs administered by either level of government.  Where care services are provided under a state funded program to an indigenous person 50 years or older, the Commonwealth will meet the cost of the service.

Individual providers will be able to deliver both basic community care services for people under and over 65 (under and over 50 for Indigenous Australians).
What are the timelines for implementation? The following broader timelines apply to the implementation of the reforms to HACC and related programs:

 

  • Between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2012 the states will continue to administer the HACC Program and the current service agreements will remain in place.
  • From 1 July 2012 and beyond the Commonwealth will be responsible for directly funding and managing the HACC Program for clients aged 65 years and over(50 years and over for indigenous Australians) and the State will be responsible for directly funding and managing the HACC Program for clients under 65 years of age (under 50 years for indigenous Australians).
  • According to the National Health Reform Agreement the Commonwealth will not substantially alter service delivery mechanisms before 2015.
Will service providers who currently provide HACC services to both age groups be likely to have two funding agreements Yes – one with the State government for basic community care services provided to people under the age of 65 (under 50 for Indigenous Australians) and one with the Commonwealth for basic community care services provided to people 65 years and over (50 years and over for Indigenous Australians). 

 

The State and the Commonwealth are working together to align these agreements as far as possible and consider ways to minimise duplication of any reporting and compliance requirements.
Will existing contracts be renewed after 2015? The reforms are being progressed through a staged approach.  From July 2012, contract renewal will become the responsibility of the respective government.
What impact will the reforms have on smaller HACC providers? It is expected that basic level community care services for all age groups will continue to be delivered through a mix of local government, state agency and large, medium and small non-government organisations as it currently is. 
Will service providers still be able to provide HACC services to both over and under 65s? Yes. It is expected that basic level community care services will continue to be delivered through a mix of local government, state agency and non-government providers as it currently is. 
Individual providers will be able to continue to deliver both disability and aged care services to people irrespective of their age.
Currently some of our clients are eligible for HACC services but not for disability services – how will these clients be affected? Both new and existing clients under the age of 65 years will be able to access HACC services in the future if they are eligible.

 

The new health reforms provide an opportunity to integrate HACC services into a disability and community care service system where people under the age of 65 years can access the level of services that meets their needs.
Will services decrease when people turn 65? The intent of the reforms is that no particular client group is disadvantaged.  The implementation of the new arrangements will be carefully managed by both levels of government to ensure continuity of care and seamless transition of service provision for clients.

 
Will MDS data still be required?
(for services to over 65 years and/or for under 65 years)

Community Care funded organisations will continue to supply data through the HACC MDS in line with current practices as outlined in the Home and Community Care Program National MDS User Guide Version 2.0.

To reduce the reporting burden, organisations will no longer have to submit a quarterly performance report for most service types. In places of the reports Community Care will use MDS data as the basis of monitoring service delivery. MDS data will continue to required on a quarterly basis.
Will the new system be using the Community Care Common Standards? Will there be another system for under 65s? The department is aware of this issue and needs to work this through as the discussion on the design of the future disability and community care service system is progressed.

 

There is recognition that duplication could result from two levels of reporting, compliance and quality standard requirements. Discussion with the Commonwealth is considering the best ways to manage this.
How will HACC services for carers be funded and administered in the future? Support for carers is a critical issue. Services aimed at supporting carers of people over 65 years of age will become the responsibility of the Commonwealth and services aimed at supporting carers of people under the age of 65 years will become the responsibility of the State.

 

Carers have been identified as a key group for consultation when planning and developing the future service system. 
What impact will the reforms have on Volunteers? Volunteers are an integral part of the provision of many HACC services and have been identified as a key group for consultation when planning and developing the future service system. 

 

Changes under the broader National Health Reforms

Question

Response
What are Medicare Locals? Medicare Locals will be a national network of independent primary health care organisations established by the Commonwealth to improve coordination and planning of primary health care services in local communities.

 

Under the National Health Reform Agreement more Medicare Locals are expected to be established within a shorter timeframe than in the original National Health and Hospitals Agreement of April 2010.

More information is available at the yourHealth website
What are Local Hospital Networks (LHNs)/Local Health and Hospitals Networks (LHHNs)? LHNs/LHHNs will be a single public hospital or small groups of public hospitals with a geographic or functional connection, large enough to operate efficiently and to provide a reasonable range of hospital services.

 

Seventeen LHHNs will be established in Queensland.  These will be statutory bodies accountable to the community and to the Queensland Government.  LHHNs will be managed by governing councils which will have members from the community with a mix of skills including business, financial, human resource and expertise in delivering health services. 

Additional information is available at the Queensland Health national health reform website.
How will the proposed LHNs/LHHNs and Medicare Locals be linked?

 

 It is anticipated that there will be some common membership of governance structures between LHHNs and Medicare Locals and where possible these organisations will share common geographic boundaries.

 

It is expected LHNs/LHHNs will work closely with Medicare Locals and aged care one-stop shops to deliver better integration and smoother transitions for patients across the entire health and hospital system.  The processes to enable this will be developed as the implementation progresses.

Additional information is available at the yourHealth and Queensland Health national health reform websites.