IHACPA calls for feedback to inform Support at Home pricing

The Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) is seeking input from home care providers and stakeholders following the release of its Consultation Paper on the Pricing Approach for the Support at Home Service List 2025–26.

Key points

• The Support at Home program will replace the Home Care Packages Program and Short-Term Restorative Care Programme from 1 July 2025
• Support at Home will have a defined service list that will outline the care and services available
• The pricing advice will include recommended prices for services in both metropolitan and rural or remote areas, price differentiations for services based on delivery day and time, and price adjustments (if necessary) for people with diverse backgrounds and life experiences

IHACPA’s consultation paper for the Support at Home service list comes hot on the tail of the release of their pricing for residential care in 2024-25. Unlike residential care prices, this will be a new look service list for the incoming Support at Home program that will be introduced in July 2025.

Support at home will cover the existing Home Care Package (HCP) program and Short-Term Restorative Care Programme from day one with the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) to follow suit no earlier than 2027.

The Support at Home service list will specify the range of services available and will be published with a list of prices before the program’s implementation. If approved for Support at Home services at assessment, a participant will receive a budget for services delivered by registered service providers. 

To support the development of independent in-home aged care pricing and costing advice to the government, IHACPA is seeking input on the proposed approach, methodology and principles to underpin this advice.

All stakeholders are invited to provide their feedback to help shape the development of IHACPA’s Support at Home pricing advice for 2025–26.

The consultation period is open to the public until 5 pm AEDT October 25 2024.

“We want to listen to the issues that are important to the sector to build our understanding and ensure our advice results in the most accurate and fair pricing that reflects the true cost of delivering safe and quality in-home aged care service,” Pricing Authority Chair, Mr David Tune AO PSM, said.

“Input from the aged care community will ensure our advice is representative of the diversity of aged care services, and meets the unique needs and challenges faced by in-home care recipients and providers.”

The Indicative Support at Home service list includes:

• Nursing care
• Allied health and other therapeutic services
• Nutrition
• Restorative care management
• Personal care
• Therapeutic services for independent living
• Respite

IHACPA will follow a set of pricing principles, which are included in its consultation paper. Providers and stakeholders are being asked to recommend any changes or additional pricing principles. 

Additional work is also taking place around annual cost collections to gain a detailed understanding of the resources and costs involved in delivering residential and in-home aged care services. 

Stakeholders are also asked to share how IHACPA could improve the representativeness of the cost collection participation across a range of domains, for example, service types, geography, specific population groups?

Other questions focus on the establishment of unit pricing for each service, the development of an indexation methodology and price benchmarking. IHACPA is also curious about pricing adjustments for service providers operating in thin markets where service delivery is likely to cost more. 

“We are seeking feedback from stakeholders on whether there are cost differences between providers with respect to the delivery of in-home aged care services, supported by data and evidence, where available,” the consultation paper stated.

“For example, if you believe there are additional costs in delivering services in rural or remote areas, it would be helpful if you could quantify the full extent of these additional costs, for example, the cost of transport and agency staff.”

Anyone interested in providing feedback can find more information through IHACPA’s website.