Why it is important to check your monthly statement if you are receiving a Home Care Package

The latest assurance review of the Home Care Packages Program and the Pricing Transparency on the Government’s My Aged Care portal is advising existing or potential care recipients to carefully check pricing information on its website.

Existing or potential care recipients should confirm with the provider what they will be charged and why before they sign a home care agreement.

“Once with a provider, they need to check their home care agreement and attached pricing schedule to ensure these align with their understanding,” stated the assurance review.

“Finally, monthly statements should be checked carefully to make sure they are being charged as per their agreed pricing outlined in their home care agreement.”

In short, providers should focus on meeting their obligations for pricing transparency on My Aged Care – but the onus is also on care recipients and their families to ensure that they are checking their statements and raising concerns about any problems.

This will ensure that all Australians using aged care services can access up-to-date information – and are making informed decisions about their services and the cost.

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A special thanks to our contributors

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Caroline Egan

DCM Media, agedcare101

Caroline has a wealth of experience writing within the retirement and aged care sector and is a contributing journalist for the Villages.com.au and agedcare101 blog and accompanying newsletters.

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Ian Horswill

Journalist

Ian is a journalist, writer and sub-editor for the aged care sector, working at The DCM Group. He writes for The Weekly Source, agedcare101, villages.com.au and the DCM Institute fortnightly newsletter Friday. Ian is in daily contact with CEOs of retirement living, land lease and the aged care operations and makes a new contact every week. He investigates media releases, LinkedIn and Facebook for a good source for ideas for stories.

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Lauren Broomham

Retirement and Aged Care Journalist

Lauren is a journalist for villages.com.au, agedcare101 and The Donaldson Sisters. Growing up in a big family in small town communities, she has always had a love for the written word, joining her local library at the age of six months. With over eight years' experience in writing and editing, she is a keen follower of news and current affairs with a nose for a good story.

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Jill Donaldson

Physiotherapist

Jill has been practicing as a clinical physiotherapist for 30 years. For the last 13 years she has worked solely in the Aged Care sector in more than 50 metropolitan and regional facilities. Jill has also toured care facilities in the US and Africa and is a passionate advocate for both the residents in aged care and the staff who care for them. She researches and writes for DCM Media.

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Chris Baynes

DCM Media, agedcare101

Chris has been a journalist and publisher in the retirement village and aged care sectors for 11 years. He has visited over 250 retirement villages and 50 aged care facilities both within Australia and internationally. Chris is a regular speaker at industry conferences plus is a frequent radio commentator.

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Annie Donaldson

Nurse and Carer

Annie has a long career in both nursing and the media. She has planned and co-ordinated the medical support from both international TV productions and major stadium events. In recent years she has been a primary family carer plus involved in structured carer support.