Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

I am pleased to introduce the Aged Care Amendment (Improved Home Care Payment Administration No. 1) Bill 2020.

This bill amends the way that home care providers are paid the government subsidy.

Providers currently receive the monthly subsidy for a home care recipient in advance using an estimate based on previous months. The provider then lodges a claim after the end of the month, at which time a reconciliation occurs. Underpayments of subsidy are then rectified immediately, while overpayments are withheld from future payments.

This bill will amend the legislation such that a provider will not receive a payment in advance but will be paid the monthly subsidy for a home care recipient upon lodgement of a claim with Services Australia after the end of each month.

This will not impact on the amount of subsidy available to a care recipient under their home care package.

This is an important step towards addressing stakeholder concerns regarding unspent funds and aligning home care payment arrangements with other government programs, such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

I commend the bill to the House.

Debate adjourned.