Have you heard about Home Care Package supplements, but not too sure what they are?
There are actually a range of supplements a Home Care Package recipient could be eligible for dependent on their individual care needs.
The Australian government pays supplements in order to cover the added costs associated with meeting these specific care needs.
What are the different types of Home Care Package supplements?
There are a range of Home Care Package Supplements, designed to address specific care needs. These include:
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Dementia and Cognition Supplement.
This supplement is designed to assist with the cost of caring for people with moderate to severe cognitive impairment from dementia or other conditions. The eligibility is based on specific assessment tools as outlined by the Department of Health and you aren’t necessarily eligible based on a diagnosis of dementia alone. For eaxmple if you have low levels of cognitive impairment you won’t be eligible for the supplement.
It’s best to review the eligibility critirea on My Aged Care: https://www.health.gov.au/topics/aged-care/providing-aged-care-services/funding-for-aged-care-service-providers/dementia-and-cognition-supplement-for-home-care
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Enteral Feeding Supplement.
This Home Care Package supplement, the Enteral Feeding Supplement, supports care recipients with a prescribed need for enteral feeding.
Enteral feeding describes when a person gets nutrients through a tube in their nose, stomach or small intestine. The supplement is not payable for dietary formulas that are taken orally, used as food supplements, or administered in addition to food by mouth.
Applying for the supplement is through, the enteral feeding supplement online with Services Australia.
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Oxygen Supplement.
The Oxygen Supplement supports home care recipients who have an assessed medical need for continual oxygen therapy. However, this supplement is not payable for an emergency or for short-term illnesses, e.g. bronchitis.
You apply for this supplement through the oxygen supplement online with Services Australia.
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Veterans’ Supplement.
The Veterans’ Supplement helps with the cost of caring for those veterans with a mental health condition that is directly related to their service.
To be eligible you must be a Veteran and have a mental health condition that the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) accepts as being related to your service.
Your eligibility will be determined by the DVA and Services Australia who will match information to check your eligibility.
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Top-up Supplement.
This supplement tops up the dementia and cognition supplement. It’s for people who had an EACH-D package before transferring to a home care level 4 package plus dementia and cognition supplement.
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Hardship Supplement.
Home care recipients are able to apply for the Hardship Supplement if you are in financial hardship. If approved for this supplement, the Australian Government will support you with paying some or all of your aged care fees and charges.
This will then be paid directly to the Provider of your choice on your behalf.
This supplement helps care recipients who:
- Are in financial hardship.
- Cannot pay their aged care fees and charges because of circumstances beyond their control.
The fees this could cover could be things like the basic daily fee or Income Tested Fee.
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Viability Supplement.
The Viability Supplement is aimed to support those home care recipients who live in rural or remote locations.
If a Home Care recipient is eligible for this supplement it will be paid directly to the Provider, so that they can better support clients living rurally or remotely.
Eligibility is based on the location where your care recipient receives services, the Modified Monash Model (MMM) suburb and locality classification is used to clarify whether the recipient is eligible for this supplement. The more remote the location, the higher the rating. Ratings of MMM 4 or higher are eligible.
How do you find out eligibility for Home Care Package supplements?
For many of the Home Care Package supplements, the Provider will complete the assessment with you, and you will also work with a medical professional to complete documentation.
Eligibility criteria is dependent on the subsidy. There is more information about how to find out your eligibility here:
What do I receive with a supplement?
This is based on the specific type of supplement. Depending on which subsidy you are eligible for, you will receive additional funding on top of your basic level of Home Care Package funding, or it could be access to additional services or equipment.
Here’s where you are find out more about they rates, they are updated every year:
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/schedule-of-subsidies-and-supplements-for-aged-care
We hope this blog post has been informative and you have learned more about Home Care Package Supplements. If you want to find out more about Home Care Packages or the services that are available, we are always there to help.
Give one of our care experts a call to discuss, or download our Info Kit here: https://hillsnursing.com.au/info-kit/
