Home and Community Care Program: Fact Sheets about changes from 2011-2012 and Fact Sheets about HACC Service Types

The Home and Community Care (HACC) Program is a joint Australian, State and Territory Government initiative to help people in need. The NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care administers the HACC Program in NSW. The program helps frail older people and people with a disability who would otherwise be prematurely or inappropriately admitted to residential care to live independently in their own home.

Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) is committed to ongoing communication with the sector on matters arising from the April 2010 Council of Australian Governments (COAG) decision on national health reforms.

Under the National Health and Hospitals Network Agreement there will be a split of responsibilities for aged care and disability programs at age 65 (age 50 for Indigenous Australians), with the Commonwealth Government to assume full responsibility for aged care services under the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program from 1 July 2012.

 Fact Sheet 1: COAG Age Split outcome - impact on NSW HACC services

As an outcome of the National Health and Hospitals Network Agreement, COAG has established the Commonwealth Government as the level of government with full funding, policy, management and delivery responsibility for a national aged care system. These reforms include a transfer to the Commonwealth of current resourcing for aged care services from the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program.

What is the decision?

The Commonwealth will assume:
a. funding and program responsibility for basic community care services currently provided under HACC for people 65 years or over (50 years and over for Indigenous Australians); and

b. funding responsibility for specialist disability services provided under the National Disability Agreement for people aged 65 years and over (50 years and over for Indigenous Australians).

The States will assume responsibility for:

a. funding and regulating basic community care services currently delivered under HACC for people under the age of 65 (under 50 for Indigenous Australians); and

 b. funding packaged community and residential aged care services delivered on behalf of the Commonwealth for people under the age of 65 (under 50 for Indigenous Australians).

 ..... click here to download the full text of this Fact Sheet (No.1)

Fact Sheet 2: Transition and Planning for NSW Services
Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) is committed to ongoing communication with the sector on matters arising from the April 2010 Council of Australian Governments (COAG) decision on national health reforms.

Under the National Health and Hospitals Network Agreement there will be a split of responsibilities for aged care and disability programs at age 65 (age 50 for Indigenous Australians), with the Commonwealth Government to assume full responsibility for aged care services under the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program from 1 July 2012.

This Fact Sheet provides information on ... issues which have emerged from ADHC’s initial consultations about the implementation of the reforms.
 
..... click here to download the full text of this Fact Sheet (No.2)

 Throughout the transition period, ADHC will provide regular updates to stakeholders and maintain information on its website at:

www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au/dadhc/Doing+business+with+us/hacc.htm

For further enquires, please contact coagreforms@dadhc.nsw.gov.au

HACC Services
ADHC provides a number of Fact Sheets about HACC service types, with information abut who is eligible, and how to access services here - scroll down the page to 'HACC service type fact sheets':

• Allied health
• Case management
• Centre-based day care and respite
• Domestic assistance and personal care
• Formal linen service and goods and equipment
• Home maintenance
• Home modifications
• Meals and other food services
• Nursing
• Social support
• Transport

 Who is eligible for HACC services? 

• Frail older people
• People with a disability
• Their carers

People can access HACC services in a range of ways, such as:

1. Direct contact with HACC service providers, who will assess eligibility.

2. Through the local Area Health Service or Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT), who will undertake an assessment and make a referral to the appropriate service provider.

3. Through GPs, other medical practitioners, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities or Commonwealth Carelink. Commonwealth Carelink Centres provide information for older people, people with disabilities and those who provide care and services, and can be contacted on 1800 052 222 or via http://www.commcarelink.health.gov.au/

Extracted from information provided via the ADHC website, at: www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au/dadhc/Doing+business+with+us/hacc.htm