EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by the authority of the Minister for Ageing
Aged Care Act 1997
Determination under Section 52-1
Aged Care (Amount of flexible care subsidy – Transition Care Services) Determination 2009 (No. 1)
The Aged Care Act 1997 (the Act) provides for the funding of aged care services. Persons who are approved under the Act to provide flexible aged care services can be eligible to receive flexible care subsidy payments in respect of the care they provide to approved care recipients.
Subsection 50-2(1) of the Act provides that the Flexible Care Subsidy Principles 1997 may specify the kinds of care for which flexible care subsidy may be payable. The Flexible Care Subsidy Principles 1997 presently provides for four types of flexible care. These kinds of care are extended aged care at home services (including extended aged care at home – dementia), multi-purpose services, innovative care services and transition care.
Paragraph 52-1(1)(a) provides that the Minister may determine by legislative instrument the amount of the Flexible Care Subsidy while paragraph 52-1(1)(b) provides that the Flexible Care Subsidy may be worked out in accordance with a method determined by the Minister by legislative instrument.
This Determination specifies the amount of flexible care subsidy from 1 July 2009 that is payable for flexible care in the form of transition care for each day that an approved provider’s flexible care place is occupied by a care recipient who is approved to receive, and is provided with, transition care on that day. This amount depends on the State or Territory in which the Flexible Care Service is located.
This Determination revokes the Determination ACA Ch. 3 No. 22/2008, Legislative Instrument F2008L02239.
Consultation
The eight subsidy rates for transition care are based on the number of existing jointly funded and fully funded places and on the anticipated roll-out of 470 additional transition care places during 2009-10. The number of additional transition care places for 2009-10 was agreed, in consultation with, the cross-jurisdictional Transition Care Working Group.
Information about the increase in the amount of the supplement will be disseminated via print and electronic media to approved providers.