Natalie Siegel-Brown, Queensland’s Public Guardian, has voiced significant concerns regarding the government’s new aged care funding model in her first official progress report as the Aged Care Inspector-General. Siegel-Brown was elevated to the position late last year. In her short report, she vividly describes the negative effects of these funding shifts, particularly how they harm access to care for at-risk populations.
In her report, dated just before the end of May, Siegel-Brown detailed how the federal government’s self-imposed budget limits are affecting access to care. She was sharing those findings with Parliament on Thursday. She noted that the federal government should have an interest in minimizing costs borne by taxpayers. The new funding formula could inadvertently push these at-home stayers into more expensive residential care as people with dementia face higher out-of-pocket spending.
Report Findings and Government Response
Siegel-Brown’s analysis uncovers some really promising news about the new funding model. Then consider the fact that the government only pays for 89 percent of home care and 73 percent of residential care! At the same time, taxpayers continue to pay 95 percent of home care costs and 76 percent of residential care costs. Unfortunately, this funding level has dropped.
Also speaking for the industry, Penny Allman-Payne—a longtime proponent of the carbonfree model—said she was shocked by the new model. Ms O’Loughlin said, “The financialisation of aged care is scary. Siegel-Brown made a heartfelt and personal appeal. She worries that increased user fees will keep the most vulnerable people from going to clinic to get the care they urgently need.
The government was made to look very foolish last year for failing to deliver on 20,000 home care packages. In the end, they did a 180-degree turn on their tactics. Minister Sam Rae welcomed Siegel-Brown’s report, agreeing that she and the Commissioner shared a focus on improving aged care. He specifically thanked her for her wonderful recommendations and advice.
“She is absolutely right that we share the same goal … It’s encouraging to see acknowledgements that our reforms have strengthened clinical care, improved provider viability and strengthened our aged care workforce,” – Sam Rae
Wait Times and Universal Entitlement
In her own report, Siegel-Brown highlighted the royal commission’s call for a one-month maximum wait time to receive care. She sounded the alarm on the fact that three-month wait period is now the national average. This extension is at odds with the royal commission’s aims for a system that protects universal entitlement to quality care.
“My Office understands the reality the government is up against: an increasing ageing population magnifying the demand for aged care, with a decreasing working-age population to fund it,” Siegel-Brown stated. This demographic challenge is a monumental obstacle to enacting urgent reforms to the aged care industry.
While acknowledging the government’s budget constraints, Siegel-Brown called for a rethinking of policies that restrict the number of home care slots available. She believes this approach contradicts the royal commission’s recommendations and may ultimately lead to greater distress among those in need of immediate support.
“There is not a limitless pool of money. But I share the fears of stakeholders that these reforms could potentially create unnecessary cost blow outs.” – Natalie Siegel-Brown
Positive Changes and Future Outlook
Despite this optimism, Siegel-Brown remains critical of several aspects of the funding model. She acknowledges that the Albanese government has made “impartial, substantive changes” to bolster and improve aged care services since taking office last May. She pushed for stronger, additional changes. These improvements are necessary to make sure these changes really help older Australians get the best and most of ageing.
Siegel-Brown drove home the point that attention to personal hygiene in clinical practice is important. If it isn’t delivered with the right priority, the consequences of ignoring it can be quite dire.
She spoke to how important it is that Labor’s Act must move towards compassionate care—tender care in an equitable way. Now, we need bold, quick amendments to translate its noble goals into tangible outcomes, rather than simply wishes.
“[But] There are some areas in which an urgent change of approach is needed if the underlying intent of the Act is to be more than just aspiration.” – Natalie Siegel-Brown
