❓ Ms. Quirk questions the Minister for Health about potential cuts to HACC services due to changes in federal funding and the move towards consumer-directed care. The Minister acknowledges the changes and commits to investigating the concerns raised.
AnsweredQoN 866Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOME AND COMMUNITY CARE MODEL —
CONSUMER-DIRECTED CARE
866. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Minister for
Health:
Before I ask my question, I welcome
the students from St Norbert College in Queens Park for the member for Victoria
Park.
I refer to changes to the home and
community care—HACC—model.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Order! Just carry on with your question; just carry on.
Ms
M.M. QUIRK : What is the problem?
Several members interjected.
Ms
M.M. QUIRK : I said Victoria Park.
I refer to the changes to the home
and community care model, HACC —
Mr
M.J. Cowper interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Murray–Wellington, I call you to order for the
first time. Thank you, member for Girrawheen.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : I refer
to the changes to the home and community care model, HACC, funded by the
federal government but administered by the state, and the move towards
consumer-directed care and individual packages from next year.
(1) Is the
minister aware that many local governments are considering cutting services to
seniors and the aged because HACC funding for their exercise programs, for
sending them to activities, for transport and outings will no longer fall under
the HACC umbrella?
(2) Do these
activities not have huge health benefits by increasing wellbeing in seniors and
reducing the need for hospital admissions?
Mrs
G.J. Godfrey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Belmont, I call you to order for the first time.
Ms
M.M. QUIRK : I will start again.
(3) What is the
minister doing to ensure these services, particularly in the member for Belmont's
area, are not cut?
CONSUMER-DIRECTED CARE
866. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Minister for
Health:
Before I ask my question, I welcome
the students from St Norbert College in Queens Park for the member for Victoria
Park.
I refer to changes to the home and
community care—HACC—model.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Order! Just carry on with your question; just carry on.
Ms
M.M. QUIRK : What is the problem?
Several members interjected.
Ms
M.M. QUIRK : I said Victoria Park.
I refer to the changes to the home
and community care model, HACC —
Mr
M.J. Cowper interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Murray–Wellington, I call you to order for the
first time. Thank you, member for Girrawheen.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : I refer
to the changes to the home and community care model, HACC, funded by the
federal government but administered by the state, and the move towards
consumer-directed care and individual packages from next year.
(1) Is the
minister aware that many local governments are considering cutting services to
seniors and the aged because HACC funding for their exercise programs, for
sending them to activities, for transport and outings will no longer fall under
the HACC umbrella?
(2) Do these
activities not have huge health benefits by increasing wellbeing in seniors and
reducing the need for hospital admissions?
Mrs
G.J. Godfrey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Belmont, I call you to order for the first time.
Ms
M.M. QUIRK : I will start again.
(3) What is the
minister doing to ensure these services, particularly in the member for Belmont's
area, are not cut?
AnswerView source ↗
Mr Speaker —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Let us carry on. Thank you!
(1)–(3) It
is correct that changes are underway for the provision of services for aged and
disabled people in their homes as a result of, as I understand it, the federal
government putting in place a new system. That is progressively being
implemented across all the Australian jurisdictions. As far as Western Australia
is concerned, we are at the point of commencing negotiations with the federal
government to ensure an outcome for Western Australia that ensures the needs of
people who are provided for through home and community care services are
adequately met. I am certainly not aware of any proposals by local governments
in particular to reduce their funding allocations or the services provided
through HACC services. To my knowledge, that is not something that has been
raised with me to this point. If there are issues in that respect,
consideration will be given to them by the health department in negotiations
that occur with the federal government.
Before there is any acceptance that a
member opposite is saying something that is completely factually correct, I certainly
want to have it corroborated. I will ensure the issue raised by the member is
investigated, but it is not something that, to this point, has been raised with
me. I agree that the services the member referred to are important, and I have
no doubt that the high level of services provided through the home and
community care program or its successor will continue.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Let us carry on. Thank you!
(1)–(3) It
is correct that changes are underway for the provision of services for aged and
disabled people in their homes as a result of, as I understand it, the federal
government putting in place a new system. That is progressively being
implemented across all the Australian jurisdictions. As far as Western Australia
is concerned, we are at the point of commencing negotiations with the federal
government to ensure an outcome for Western Australia that ensures the needs of
people who are provided for through home and community care services are
adequately met. I am certainly not aware of any proposals by local governments
in particular to reduce their funding allocations or the services provided
through HACC services. To my knowledge, that is not something that has been
raised with me to this point. If there are issues in that respect,
consideration will be given to them by the health department in negotiations
that occur with the federal government.
Before there is any acceptance that a
member opposite is saying something that is completely factually correct, I certainly
want to have it corroborated. I will ensure the issue raised by the member is
investigated, but it is not something that, to this point, has been raised with
me. I agree that the services the member referred to are important, and I have
no doubt that the high level of services provided through the home and
community care program or its successor will continue.
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