Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Improved Home Care Payment Administration No. 2) Act 2021

 

No. 2, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

An Act to amend the law in relation to home care subsidy, and for related purposes

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Schedules

Schedule 1—Amendments

Part 1—Payment on invoice for services provided

Aged Care Act 1997

Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997

A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999

Part 2—Variation of claims for home care subsidy

Aged Care Act 1997

Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997

Part 3—Previous claims

Aged Care Act 1997

Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997

Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia

 

 

Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Improved Home Care Payment Administration No. 2) Act 2021

No. 2, 2021

 

 

 

An Act to amend the law in relation to home care subsidy, and for related purposes

[Assented to 16 February 2021]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act is the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Improved Home Care Payment Administration No. 2) Act 2021.

2  Commencement

 (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provisions

Commencement

Date/Details

1.  Sections 1 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table

The day this Act receives the Royal Assent.

16 February 2021

2.  Schedule 1, Parts 1 and 2

A single day to be fixed by Proclamation.

However, if the commencement of the provisions is not fixed by a Proclamation registered on the Federal Register of Legislation established under the Legislation Act 2003, within the period of 6 months beginning on the day this Act receives the Royal Assent, the provisions are repealed on the day after the end of that period.

1 September 2021

(F2021N00042)

3.  Schedule 1, Part 3

Immediately after the commencement of the provisions covered by table item 2.

However, if the provisions covered by table item 2 do not commence, the provisions covered by this table item are repealed at the same time as the provisions covered by table item 2 are repealed.

1 September 2021

 

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.

 (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.

3  Schedules

  Legislation that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1Amendments

Part 1Payment on invoice for services provided

Aged Care Act 1997

1  Before section 481

Insert:

Subdivision AAmount of home care subsidy

2  Subsection 481(2)

Repeal the subsection, substitute:

 (2) The amount of *home care subsidy for a care recipient in respect of the *payment period is worked out as follows:

Home care subsidy calculator

Step 1. Work out the Commonwealth contribution amount using section 481A.

Step 2. Work out the shortfall amount using section 4813.

Step 3. If subsection (3) does not apply, work out, using section 4817, the home care account balance in the care recipient’s *home care account immediately before the approved provider gives to the Secretary, under section 474, a claim in respect of the *payment period.

Step 4. Identify:

 (a) if subsection (3) applies—the Commonwealth contribution amount; or

 (b) otherwise—the sum of the Commonwealth contribution amount and the home care account balance.

This is the maximum contribution amount.

Step 5. Identify the lesser of the following amounts (or either amount if they are the same):

 (a) the shortfall amount;

 (b) the maximum contribution amount.

This is the amount of home care subsidy for the care recipient in respect of the *payment period.

 (3) This subsection applies if:

 (a) within the period specified in the Subsidy Principles before the day the approved provider gives to the Secretary, under section 474, the claim in respect of the *payment period, another approved provider ceases to provide home care to the care recipient; or

 (b) any other circumstances specified in the Subsidy Principles apply.

3  After section 481

Insert:

Subdivision BCommonwealth contribution amount

481A  Commonwealth contribution amount

  The Commonwealth contribution amount for the care recipient in respect of the *payment period is worked out as follows:

Commonwealth contribution amount calculator

Step 1. Work out the basic subsidy amount using section 482.

Step 2. Add to this amount the amounts of any primary supplements worked out using section 483.

Step 3. Subtract the amounts of any reductions in subsidy worked out using section 484.

Step 4. Add the amounts of any other supplements worked out using section 489.

The result is the Commonwealth contribution amount for the care recipient in respect of the *payment period.

4  Subsection 483(1)

Omit “home care subsidy”, substitute “Commonwealth contribution amount”.

5  Section 484

Omit “home care subsidy”, substitute “Commonwealth contribution amount”.

6  Subsection 489(1)

Omit “home care subsidy”, substitute “Commonwealth contribution amount”.

7  At the end of Part 3.2

Add:

Subdivision CShortfall amount

4813  Shortfall amount

 (1) The shortfall amount for the care recipient in respect of the *payment period is worked out as follows:

Shortfall amount calculator

Step 1. Work out, in accordance with the Subsidy Principles, the price for the home care provided during the *payment period to the care recipient by the approved provider.

Step 1A. If, in accordance with the User Rights Principles, the approved provider elects to return the *Commonwealth portion of the care recipient’s *unspent home care amount to the Commonwealth, reduce the price by the amount of the Commonwealth portion available at the end of the previous *payment period, up to 100% of the price.

Step 2. Subtract the care recipient contribution amount (if any) specified in, or worked out in accordance with, the Subsidy Principles.

The result is the shortfall amount for the care recipient in respect of the *payment period. However, if the result does not exceed zero, the shortfall amount is zero.

 (2) The Subsidy Principles must specify the way to work out the price for home care provided during a *payment period to a care recipient by an approved provider for the purposes of step 1 of the shortfall amount calculator.

 (3) Without limiting subsection (2), the Subsidy Principles may require the price to include or exclude amounts in relation to particular matters.

 (4) The Subsidy Principles may specify the care recipient contribution amount, or the way to work out the care recipient contribution amount, for a care recipient in respect of a *payment period for the purposes of step 2 of the shortfall amount calculator.

Subdivision DHome care accounts

4814  Home care account

 (1) There is a home care account for each person who is, at any time on or after the *implementation day, a *prioritised home care recipient.

 (2) A person starts to have a *home care account on:

 (a) if the person is, on the *implementation day, a *prioritised home care recipientthe implementation day; or

 (b) otherwise—the day the Secretary first makes, after the implementation day, a determination under section 23B1 that the person is a prioritised home care recipient.

4815  Home care credits

  The following table sets out when a credit arises in a care recipient’s *home care account and the amount of the credit. The credit is called a home care credit.

 

Credits in the home care account

Item

If ...

a credit of ...

arises ...

1

the amount worked out at step 1 (Commonwealth contribution amount) of the home care subsidy calculator in subsection 481(2) for the care recipient in respect of a *payment period exceeds the amount worked out at step 2 (shortfall amount) of that calculator for the care recipient in respect of the payment period

the amount of the excess

at the later of:

(a) the end of the subsequent payment period; and

(b) the time the approved provider gives to the Secretary, under section 474, a claim in respect of the payment period

2

the circumstances specified in the Subsidy Principles happen

an amount specified in, or worked out in accordance with, the Subsidy Principles

at the time specified in the Subsidy Principles

4816  Home care debits

  The following table sets out when a debit arises in a care recipient’s *home care account and the amount of the debit. The debit is called a home care debit.

 

Debits in the home care account

Item

If ...

a debit of ...

arises ...

1

the amount worked out at step 2 (shortfall amount) of the home care subsidy calculator in subsection 481(2) for the care recipient in respect of a *payment period exceeds the amount worked out at step 1 (Commonwealth contribution amount) of that calculator for the care recipient in respect of the payment period

the amount (if any) that is the difference between:

(a) the amount identified in step 5 of that calculator for the care recipient in respect of the payment period; and

(b) the amount worked out at step 1 (Commonwealth contribution amount) of that calculator for the care recipient in respect of the payment period

at the time the approved provider gives to the Secretary, under section 474, a claim in respect of the payment period

2

the circumstances specified in the Subsidy Principles happen

an amount specified in, or worked out in accordance with, the Subsidy Principles

at the time specified in the Subsidy Principles

4817  Home care account balance

  The home care account balance in a care recipient’s *home care account at a particular time equals:

 (a) the sum of the *home care credits in that account at that time; less

 (b) the sum of the *home care debits in that account at that time.

4818  When home care account ceases

  A care recipient’s *home care account ceases when the care recipient dies.

8  Subparagraphs 562(b)(i) and (c)(i)

After “charge”, insert “the care recipient”.

9  Section 961 (table item 23)

Omit “Part 4.2”, substitute “Parts 3.2 and 4.2”.

10  Clause 1 of Schedule 1

Insert:

home care account means an account that arises under section 4814.

home care credit has the meaning given by section 4815.

home care debit has the meaning given by section 4816.

implementation day means the day Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Improved Home Care Payment Administration No. 2) Act 2021 commences.

11  Clause 1 of Schedule 1 (definition of payment period)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

payment period:

 (a) in relation to residential care: see section 432; and

 (b) in relation to home care: see section 472.

Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997

12  Subsections 481(2) to (4)

Repeal the subsections, substitute:

 (2) The amount of *home care subsidy payable to the approved provider in respect of a care recipient in respect of the *payment period is the amount:

 (a) specified in the Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Principles; or

 (b) worked out in accordance with a method specified in the Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Principles.

 (3) Without limiting subsection (2), the Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Principles made for the purposes of subsection (2) may authorise the making of legislative instruments by the Minister.

13  Clause 1 of Schedule 1 (definition of payment period)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

payment period:

 (a) in relation to residential care: see section 432; and

 (b) in relation to home care: see section 472.

A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999

14  Subsection 3830(1)

Repeal the subsection, substitute:

 (1) A supply of *home care is GSTfree if:

 (a) home care subsidy is payable under Part 3.2 of the Aged Care Act 1997 or Part 3.2 of the Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 to the supplier for the care; or

 (b) the Commonwealth contribution amount worked out in respect of the supplier, using section 481A of the Aged Care Act 1997, for the recipient of the care in respect of the payment period (within the meaning of that Act) in which the supply is made, is greater than zero; or

 (c) both of the following apply:

 (i) the supplier is eligible for home care subsidy under section 461 of the Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 in the payment period (within the meaning of that Act) in which the supply is made;

 (ii) the supply is a supply of a kind specified in the regulations.

15  Application of amendments

The amendments of the Aged Care Act 1997 and the Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 made by this Part apply in relation to payment periods beginning on or after the day this item commences.

16  Rules

(1) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, make rules prescribing matters of a transitional nature (including prescribing any saving or application provisions) relating to the amendments or repeals made by this Act.

(2) To avoid doubt, the rules may not do the following:

 (a) create an offence or civil penalty;

 (b) provide powers of:

 (i) arrest or detention; or

 (ii) entry, search or seizure;

 (c) impose a tax;

 (d) directly amend the text of an Act.

(3) Rules may provide that, during or in relation to the first 12 months after the commencement of this item, this Act or any other Act or instrument has effect with any modifications prescribed by the rules.

(4) Subsection 12(2) (retrospective application of legislative instruments) of the Legislation Act 2003 does not apply to rules made for the purposes of this item.

(5) This Act (other than subitem (2)) does not limit the rules that may be made for the purposes of subitem (1).

Part 2Variation of claims for home care subsidy

Aged Care Act 1997

17  Paragraph 474A(1)(a)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

 (a) either:

 (i) the period specified in the Subsidy Principles; or

 (ii) if no such period is specified—2 years after the end of that payment period; or

18  After subsection 474A(1)

Insert:

 (1A) Without limiting subparagraph (1)(a)(i), the Subsidy Principles may specify different periods in respect of different classes of variations.

Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997

19  Paragraph 474A(1)(a)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

 (a) either:

 (i) the period specified in the Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Principles; or

 (ii) if no such period is specified—2 years after the end of that payment period; or

20  After subsection 474A(1)

Insert:

 (1A) Without limiting subparagraph (1)(a)(i), the Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Principles may specify different periods in respect of different classes of variations.

21  Application of amendments

(1) The amendments of subsection 474A(1) of the Aged Care Act 1997 and subsection 474A(1) of the Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 made by this Part apply in relation to any claim made in respect of a payment period beginning on or after the day this item commences.

(2) On and from the day that is 12 months after the day this item commences, the amendments of subsection 474A(1) of the Aged Care Act 1997 and subsection 474A(1) of the Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 made by this Part also apply in relation to any claim made in respect of a payment period beginning before the day this item commences.

Part 3Previous claims

Aged Care Act 1997

22  Paragraph 471(1A)(b)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

 (b) in respect of a payment period if the approved provider has not given to the Secretary under section 474:

 (i) a claim in respect of the payment period; and

 (ii) a claim in respect of each preceding payment period (if any) ending on or after the first day on which the approved provider is eligible under section 461.

Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997

23  Paragraph 471(1A)(b)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

 (b) in respect of a payment period if the approved provider has not given to the Secretary under section 474:

 (i) a claim in respect of the payment period; and

 (ii) a claim in respect of each preceding payment period (if any) ending on or after the first day on which the approved provider is eligible under section 461.

24  Application of amendments

The amendments of the Aged Care Act 1997 and the Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 made by this Part apply in relation to payment of home care subsidy in respect of payment periods beginning on or after the day this item commences.

 

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 21 October 2020

Senate on 2 February 2021]

(30/20)