In brief - Quality and Safety Commission signals new era for aged care with increased transparency

Commencing 1 January 2019, the newly established Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission combines the functions of the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency and the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner. 
 
According to the Honourable Ken Wyatt, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, the Quality and Safety Commission is designed to "be a responsive, one-stop shop to prevent failures, highlight quality concerns and have them quickly rectified". The Commission will also assume responsibility for the regulatory aged care approval and compliance functions of the Department of Health from 1 January 2020.
 
The Quality and Safety Commission will operate independently of the Royal Commission into Aged Care, although it is anticipated that the recently appointed Quality and Safety Commissioner, Janet Anderson, and other Quality and Safety staff will assist in providing a response to the Royal Commission's enquiries. 

Roles and responsibilities of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

The Quality and Safety Commission will independently accredit, assess and monitor aged care services subsidised by the Federal Government and will also work to resolve complaints into aged care services and service providers. A new Chief Clinical Advisor (yet to be appointed) will provide advice to the Commission in relation to complex clinical matters.
 
From 1 July 2019, the Quality and Safety Commission will also assume responsibility for administering the new Aged Care Quality Standards which replace the existing:
  • Accreditation Standards
  • Home Care Standards
  • National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program Quality Framework Standards, and
  • Transition Care Standards
Under the new regime, the Commission will also provide increased transparency through a publicly available rating against the Quality Standards. 
 

This is commentary published by Colin Biggers & Paisley for general information purposes only. This should not be relied on as specific advice. You should seek your own legal and other advice for any question, or for any specific situation or proposal, before making any final decision. The content also is subject to change. A person listed may not be admitted as a lawyer in all States and Territories. © Colin Biggers & Paisley, Australia 2024.

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