The ANMF (Vic Branch) has received an update from the Victorian Department of Health on the ongoing delivery of aged care assessments in the state.
The Commonwealth and Department of Health have extended the current agreement to deliver 40 per cent of community and 100 per cent of in-hospital assessments in 2025-2026.
The department has extended its agreements with the 16 current departmental aged care assessment providers and all providers have been informed.
Key points include:
- The Commonwealth KPIs remain the same as for 2024-25.
- A fee for service model will continue to apply.
- The department has secured increased unit pricing as well as a temporary additional nine-month price uplift.
- The Victorian Department of Health is continuing to negotiate unit pricing that more appropriately reflects the cost of delivering aged care assessments, including considering the workforce costs such as health service EBAs and the skilled clinical workforce.
- The Commonwealth will conduct an independent pricing study in 2025-2026 to inform future unit pricing that reflects the cost of delivering aged care assessments under the requirements of the Single Assessment System (SAS). The department will work with the aged care assessment providers for data for the pricing study.
- The Department is continuing to negotiate for a longer term agreement to deliver aged care assessments beyond 30 June 2026. The Department recognises the impact of ongoing short term contracts on organisations and workforces and the impact of this alongside the uncertainty with the aged care reform changes affecting aged care assessment.
The Branch will continue to work closely with both the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care and the Victorian Department of Health to ensure aged care assessments continue to be delivered long term by the public sector to safeguard quality assessments, job security and workforce stability for nurses working in the sector.
