Consultation opens on Support at Home pricing as sector pressures mount

The Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority has opened a national consultation on the pricing advice that will underpin the Australian Government’s new Support at Home program.

The consultation, open from 12 March to 10 April 2026, invites providers, workers, peak bodies and consumers to contribute evidence on the real cost of delivering in-home aged care services.

The feedback will inform IHACPA’s Pricing Framework for Australian Support at Home Aged Care Services 2027–28, which will guide future pricing advice for services delivered under the new program.

IHACPA Chair David Tune said broad sector participation would be critical to ensuring pricing reflects the realities of delivering care across Australia.

“We want to hear from as many voices as possible in the in-home aged care sector, from aged care providers, workers and peak bodies to older people, families, carers and the public,” Mr Tune said.

“Your feedback plays a vital role in shaping pricing advice that reflects the cost of delivering services to people from a wide range of backgrounds, life experiences and locations right across Australia.”

Focus on cost pressures and data gaps

The consultation paper explores several areas likely to be closely watched by providers, including:

• cost pressures affecting home care delivery
• potential pricing adjustments
• improving cost collection methods across the sector
• participation barriers for smaller providers
• costs associated with delivering services in rural and remote areas

IHACPA is also seeking feedback on how cost pressures may differ between providers currently delivering services under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme and those transitioning to the new Support at Home model.

The consultation also highlights the need for stronger cost data from providers, particularly those supporting people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and people from diverse cultural and social backgrounds.

A critical moment for Support at Home pricing

The consultation comes as the sector prepares for the rollout of the Australian Government’s new Support at Home program, which will replace the Home Care Packages program and eventually absorb the Commonwealth Home Support Programme.

Pricing has emerged as one of the most closely watched aspects of the reform, with providers warning that inaccurate pricing could undermine service viability, particularly for smaller operators and those working in regional and remote communities.

IHACPA’s pricing advice will ultimately inform government decisions on the funding levels attached to services in the Support at Home service list.

Submissions for the consultation close at 5pm AEST on Friday 10 April 2026.