Nursing home confusion on ACFI Appeals
The Department of Health and Ageing has clarified the appeal situation for Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) claims, as they are receiving appeals from facilities regarding reclassification where the facility has received a higher subsidy level as a consequence of the review: eg where an RCS (Residential Classification Scale) downgrade triggers the $15 threshhold for conversion to ACFI.
It has advised industry peak organisations that the appeals mechanism is primarily designed to allow facilities to appeal decisions when they would be adversely affected. It believes that facilities may have have failed to appreciate that the outcome of the Department’s original review decision has been to deliver additional funding.
The Department has identified the relevant appeals and is in the process of contacting the facilities involved to ensure that they understand the situation and to seek their advice as to whether they want to continue with or withdraw the appeal.
