If the right pricing model is in place for the aged care Support at Home program, more older Australians with life-limiting illnesses will have the support they need to live, and receive care, at home for longer. This is in line with most people’s preferences.

In PCA’s view, the pricing model must reflect the full costs of providing aged care to older people with palliative diagnoses in all reasonably foreseeable circumstances. This includes complex nursing care, and psychosocial support including grief and bereavement support.

Among PCA’s recommendations are:

• IHACPA should prioritise in-home palliative care as an area for future investigation and potential cost adjustment in the home support pricing model.
• The intended meaning of “specialist care linkages” in the nursing clinical care service list should be clarified; and the complexity of the work involved must be reflected in the pricing model.
•  The pricing framework should acknowledge the up-front costs to services of establishing new systems and process that build their capacity to support people with palliative care needs.

PCA welcomes inclusion of respite care in the service list but notes that carers must be assured that the full range of palliative care clinical and non-clinical supports will provided in respite settings. Only then can carers take an offer of respite with confidence and continue in their caring role.

IHACPA Pricing Approach - Support at Home Service List