Submission to the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority

Current pricing arrangements are misaligned with the regulatory requirement that Support at Home services provide quality palliative care and end-of-life care. The pricing approach does not account for the complex aged care services frequently required by people with life-limiting conditions; nor does it recognise activities such as advance care planning, and grief and bereavement support for families.

Palliative Care Australia (PCA) recommends that price caps explicitly reflect palliative care costs, a targeted national study of palliative care costs and health system savings be undertaken, and the approach to individual financial contributions (including amounts outstanding after a death) be reviewed. PCA also recommends that IHACPA provide pricing advice about currently unfunded activities, including grief and bereavement support for families. Additionally, we propose changes to the timeframes for the End-of-Life Pathway.

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