The aged care sector is a segment of Australian healthcare that has grown rapidly over the last few decades. With an ageing population, this trend is set to continue. Accordingly, the field has experienced some huge developments in recent years that have aimed to revolutionise the way that we take care of the elderly.
Many of these changes have been focused on residential aged care homes, affecting everything from treatment types to how funding is received. Of all of these, perhaps the most important has been the introduction and integration of the Aged Care Funding Instrument, or ACFI, into the healthcare system.
With ACFI, funding can be easily received for specific care such as physiotherapy.Understanding ACFI
Replacing the previous Resident Classification Scale (RCS) in 2008, ACFI is an instrument used for resource allocation. Through assessment of the core needs that a resident might have, an average care cost can be determined and this is then used as the basis for subsequent funding.
In almost all cases, the entity receiving funding will be the care provider. Understanding and optimising use of ACFI allows a provider to receive the maximum amount of funding possible. In addition to facilitating the best possible care, optimisation also ensures that care providers as businesses and employers are taken care of and being adequately supported.
While the system is relatively young and still developing, with changes expected in 2017, it has already allowed for additional care measures such as pain management via physiotherapy to be provided to residents thanks to the tailored funding.
It is absolutely crucial to use ACFI correctly to ensure that the best possible funding is received.
ACFI optimisation
For care providers, the benefits of the system mean that it is absolutely crucial to use ACFI effectively to ensure that the best possible funding is received. Despite this, it isn’t always easy for a provider to implement the instrument correctly. This can be due to anything from the need for additional nurse recruitment to daily challenges that may arise and occupy staff attention. In addition, ACFI isn’t always easy to understand and for those that are not familiar with the system, it can be confusing and difficult to navigate.
Fortunately, the specialist team at Australian Health Professionals can help. Through ACFI optimisation, we make sure that funding is maximised, and remains consistent over time. This can be through a wide variety of different services ranging from claims analysis, to resident reviews and even onsite support during ACFI validation reviews and AACQA audits. Our team are experts when it comes to best use of ACFI, and have extensive experience with the system across a range of roles.
In addition, and perhaps more importantly when it comes to long-term stability for your business, we provide education for care staff on all things ACFI. When a team fully understands the way that the system and its associated processes work, they will be far better equipped to produce consistent and up to date claims. Our training modules cover a range of different aspects of the system, and can be specialised to suit all levels of staff.
When it comes to aged care, the system that we have here in Australia needs to be able to provide a high level of care across customers with distinct and different needs. Accordingly, aged care providers should be given the funding that they need to provide these services, and to operate in a stable and sustainable manner. ACFI goes a long way to providing this system, and although it will continue to evolve over time, it is hugely important to both understand and make correct use of it to help facilitate a healthier, happier aged population in Australia.