CHSP Provider Community of Practice Hub

Yesterday at the In Home Support - From the Head to the Heart Conference, Nick Morgan from the Department of Health and Aged Care announced changes to the dates for CHSP's transition to Support at Home. The CHSP transition will occur no earlier than July 2027.

Today the Hon Anika Wells MP released a media release advising - Support at Home to be rolled out in two stages. From 1 July 2025, Support at Home will replace the existing Home Care Packages (HCP) Program and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) Programme. The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), which provides lower levels of support to older people to help them remain at home, will transition to the new program no earlier than 1 July 2027.

In the Conference yesterday, Nick Morgan advised of the following:

• July 2024 - Single assessment workforce commences
• July 2025 - Support at Home commences with Home Care Packages and Short Term Restorative Care
• No earlier than July 2027 - CHSP joins Support at Home

Staging implications:

• July 2025
  • HCP / STRC transitions to Support at Home
  • Single provider
  • New funding model
  • New ATHM scheme (ATHM = Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme)
  • CHSP
    • Continue Grants
    • Review settings for alignment where possible
• No earlier than July 2027
  • CHSP / HCP / STRC
  • Single program
  • Multiple providers
  • Funding model across all providers
  • Single ATHM program

What this means for CHSP Providers

• 2024-2025 - One year grant agreement currently being finalised
• 2025-2026, 2026-2027 - Two year grant agreement

Preparing for transition after July 2027

• New payment system operational ahead of transition
• Prices tested with Support at Home Providers
• Consumer contribution arrangements tested in Support at Home
• New Act and regulatory framework bedded down
• Thin market arrangements tested in Support at Home
• Time to refine and test changes (like transport pricing)

Areas the Department has been consulting on

• Care Management access for older people, proposed scope, how it would be funded, and information sharing agreements
• Pooled funding for older people in group settings to pool funds for shared services - eg onsite nurse, mini-bus service, social support
• End-of-life care pathway to support older people who have been diagnosed with less than three months to live to remain in their own home

COTA Queensland's Sector Support and Development Team will be monitoring these changes and considering how best to support the sector over the coming years. We encourage you to attend the Department of Health and Aged Care's Webinar on 14 December 2023 where these changes will be discussed.