24/7 RN exemption timeframe extended, changes made to funding supplements

Eligible aged care providers can now seek exemptions from the 24/7 Registered Nurse (RN) responsibility up until June 30 2026, with the Department of Health and Aged Care publicising several important changes to 24/7 RN exemptions and supplements on Wednesday.

As a result, eligible residential care facilities can apply for exemptions lasting for up to 12 months at a time while they continue to work and build their workforce. Additionally, a reduced rate 24/7 RN supplement will be available for smaller facilities that have met their reporting criteria and provide at least 50% RN coverage, but do not meet the coverage threshold for the full supplement.

12-month exemptions continuing until 2026

Exemptions from the 24/7 RN requirement are available to help small aged care facilities in rural and remote areas struggling with RN workforce shortages. The temporary exemption provides additional time to recruit staff.

• Eligible facilities need to have 30 or fewer operational places and be situated in a Modified Monash Model (MMM) 5-7 location
• Co-located services that form a single residential facility must have no more than 30 operational places at the facility level
• Providers also need to demonstrate that they have taken reasonable steps to provide alternative clinical care requirements

Initial Department information indicated that 24/7 RN exemptions would only be available until June 30 2024. Now, they have extended coverage in the latest update to the Care minutes and 24/7 registered nurse responsibility guide.

“Exemptions are available until 30 June 2026 and may be granted for up to 12 months at a time. Note, policy regarding exemption arrangements from 1 July 2026 is subject to a future decision of government,” the Guide states. 

Currently, 40 aged care facilities are exempt from the 24/7 RN responsibility.

24/7 RN funding supplement updated

Smaller residential facilities have access to a monthly supplement to help employ extra RNs to meet their 24/7 RN coverage. Providers of eligible facilities do not have to apply for the supplement as it’s paid automatically to facilities with:

• No more than 60 residents per day (based on occupied beds) on average over a calendar month
• Provide a minimum of 20 hours of RN coverage a day (83.33%), on average over a calendar month
• Correctly report their RN coverage at the facility by 11:59pm AEST on the 7th calendar day after the end of the month

From October 2024, however, the supplement rate will be reduced and only be available to facilities with 50 residents or less. This coincides with AN-ACC funding being provided to support the delivery of an additional 15 minutes of care per day, including an extra four RN minutes.

As is the case currently, facilities not receiving the supplement will be fully funded through AN-ACC.

However, a new reduced rate 24/7 RN supplement has been announced for smaller facilities and this will be available from July 1 2024. The reduced rate supplement is designed to cover any RN shortfalls preventing smaller facilities from accessing important funding.

This supplement will be available to facilities:

• With no more than 30 residents per day (based on occupied beds) on average over a calendar month
• Correctly reporting their RN coverage
• Providing RN coverage at least 50% of the time (a reduced rate from the 83.33% coverage required for the full supplement

The reduced rate supplement will be provided at half the rate of the 24/7 RN supplement, with the total amount based on the facility’s location. It will not be available to facilities with an active 24/7 RN exemption.

For more information please refer to the Care minutes and 24/7 registered nurse responsibility guide.