Speak Out August 2019 Digital Edition

Aged care

Transition to new Cycle arrangements Will DVA clients with an existing referral need a new referral for speech pathology after 1 Oct? Clients with a current annual referral can receive up to 12 sessions of treatment after 1 October 2019 (or until the expiry of the referral if this comes first) before needing a new referral from a GP. Clients with an existing indefinite referral will also be able to receive up to 12 sessions of treatment, or treatment for another 12 months (whichever comes first) after 1 October before requiring a new GP referral. All new referrals after the 1 Oct will be subject to the new cycle arrangements. Will DVA clients with indefinite referrals need to also participate in the 12-session cycle after 1 Oct? Yes. There will no longer be indefinite referrals for speech pathology services. DVA clients may still access speech pathology services on an ongoing basis according to clinical needs but will need a referral to do so from a GP after each 12-session cycle. The GP will decide whether to refer for a further course of treatment based on discussion with the client and review of the outcomes report the therapist sends to the GP. What will I need to do differently for the new treatment cycle? As per usual best practice, therapists will be expected to assess the client and develop a treatment plan with goals set in collaboration with the client. A DVA Treatment Plan template will be available (that meets the current requirements of the Patient Care Plan PCP) that is optional to use to send through to the GP at that point. Standardised outcome measures need to be measured at the start and end of the treatment cycle. The speech pathologist must report back to the GP at the end of the treatment cycle, including outcome measure results and using the mandatory DVA Allied Health Treatment cycle report template. To ensure continuity of care, it is possible to send the report to the GP after 8 sessions whilst continuing treatment, to allow time for the GP to see the client and forward on a referral for a further treatment cycle if indicated. Will there be any payment to providers associated with the time taken to do these reports? Yes. DVA are considering what payment will be provided to therapists at the completion of the End of Cycle report. Are there any exceptions to this rule of referrals for only 12 sessions? (or 12 months, whichever is first) Yes. DVA has indicated that an application for an exception can be applied for, for certain evidence- based programs that require more sessions than this limit. The example provided by DVA is the LSVT (Lee Silverman Voice Therapy) program for Parkinson’s Disease. Exemptions for programs can be applied for through www.dva.gov.au/providers/services-requiring- prior-approval.

AGED CARE SECTOR REFORMS July 2019 marks the start of a number of changes within the aged care sector. Aged Care Quality Standards All Commonwealth subsidised aged care services across CHSP funding, home care packages program and residential aged care must now comply with the new Aged Care Standards which came into effect from 1 July 2019. The quality standards are made up of eight individual standards. Each of these standards have relevance to supporting the needs of people with communication or swallowing difficulties, and can be useful to be aware of to support advocacy re best practice, whether this relates to consumer choice and independence, (1) and the need to have appropriate communication supports to do so, or Human resources (7) with a skilled and educated workforce (training in communication and swallowing needs) or Feedback and Complaints (6) having an accessible complaints mechanism, and clients having an appropriate means of communication to be able to "speak up". More detailed information about each standard can be found in the Guidance Materials for Providers . Charter of Aged Care Rights Similarly, all aged care services across CHSP, HCP and residential care have now moved to a single integrated Charter of Rights from 1 July 2019. This new charter has been streamlined with 14 points under the heading of 'I Have the right to', and can be found here: https://agedcare.health.gov. au/quality/single-charter-of-aged-care-rights All organisations/ services providing care under these funding sources need to demonstrate that they have provided this information to the consumer and have had the consumer sign a copy. Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) The Commonwealth has announced the extension of the CHSP program for a further two year period until 2022. This will entail the additional provision of an annual wellness and reablement report (not yet implemented in Victoria). The Department of Health are currently considering future plans for this program, and as part of the NACA Care at Home Advisory Group, SPA Senior Advisor Aged Care attended a day workshop with the Department of Health in Canberra on 15 July 2019.

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August 2019 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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