Did you know that, starting this year, Home Care Package providers will not be allowed to charge exit fees? Keep reading to find out what other changes are being made to your Home Care Package pricing.

Terminology

Before we continue, we’ll define the terminology used in charging Home Care Package fees:

Package Management Fee

These are fees charged to support the delivery of a Home Care Package, which includes:

• establishing and managing home care budgets
• coordinating services
• preparing invoices and monthly statements
• organising third-party services
• other related services

Care Management Fee

These are fees charged to you as the Home Care Package recipient that are associated with the management of your care, including:

• regularly assessing the client’s needs, goals and preferences
• reviewing the home care agreement and care plan
• ensuring the care and services align with other supports and are culturally safe
• partnering with the client and their families or carers about their care; and
• identifying and addressing risks to their safety, health and wellbeing

Pricing Updates

From 1 January 2023, providers must charge no more than:

• 20 per cent of the package level for care management
• 15 per cent of package level for package management

Depending on your package level, you can be charged up to the following per fortnight:

LEVEL	CARE MANAGEMENT	PACKAGE MANAGEMENT
Level 1	$70.42	$52.78
Level 2	$123.90	$92.96
Level 3	$269.50	$202.16
Level 4	$408.6	$306.46

Your level of funding depends on your care needs and changes at the start of the financial year (1 July). These prices will go up with subsidy increases.

Providers will also not be allowed to charge:

• Exit fees
• Package management in a month where you do not receive any services other than care management
• Separate charges for brokerage or subcontracting of third-party goods or services. (This means the price your HCP provider charges must be all-inclusive. For example, if you need a wheelchair and your provider sources it for you, you must agree with your provider’s total price. They can’t charge you a separate fee for handling or other business costs.)

How will this affect you?

If your provider is charging more than the maximum rates for care and package management, they will need to reduce these prices from 1 January 2023.

You have the right to understand all changes and price increases as well as the reason behind them. Any increase to your fees must be communicated with you, and your provider must seek your consent.

We’re pleased to share that Afea’s Home Care Package clients will not be affected by the majority of the pricing changes. This is due to the following reasons:

• The package management and case management fees we charge are already lower than the maximum price enforced by the Department of Health and Aged Care
• Afea does not charge a separate fee for brokerage or subcontracting of third-party goods and services

The only change we are making is Afea will no longer be charging an exit fee.

Switch to Afea

You can change providers at any time, and your current provider must support you.

If you want to switch to Afea:

1. Reactivate your referral code by calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.
2. Provide your code to Afea.
3. Inform your current provider and agree on an end date.  
4. Enter into a new Home Care Agreement.

The start date with Afea must be on or after the end date you have agreed to with your old provider. This is to ensure there are no disruptions to your services.

However, if you want to delay your start date, remember that you only have 56 days from the end date with your current provider to enter into a new agreement. Otherwise, your HCP will be withdrawn.

Contact Afea

You will have ongoing support from a dedicated care team and access to compassionate and experienced carers. Contact us now and we’ll develop a care plan designed just for you!