A new national system for prioritising access to home care has now been established. The new system will allow home care packages to be assigned to consumers according to:

• their relative needs
• how long they have been waiting for care.

The department has started releasing home care packages through the new system, with approximately 11,300 packages scheduled for release throughout March 2017. As at 21 March 2017 approximately 1,200 have been released with an additional 10,100 to be released over the coming week. From next month, packages will be released on a regular basis, likely to be weekly.

The number of packages being released takes into account home care places that were unoccupied on 27 February 2017, packages that have been exited or not taken up in previous weeks, and new packages. The number of packages that are released will ensure that the overall home care market continues to grow.

Consumers will receive a letter when they have been assigned a package. This letter will include a unique referral code which can be used to access care.

For most consumers, the package will allow them to access care for the first time. Consumers can access care by contacting a provider directly and providing the unique referral code included in the letter they received from the department. Alternatively, the consumer may ask that My Aged Care send an electronic referral on their behalf.

For other consumers, the package that is assigned will be an upgrade on the level of care they are currently receiving. In these instances, their provider will receive an immediate notification through the provider portal on My Aged Care and will not need to accept a new referral.

Please contact LiveWell Care on 03 9429 5380 should you require any assistance in choosing and negotiating the right Home Care Provider for you.