The Department of Health and Aged Care have updated the My Aged Care service and support portal to revise how room pricing information is published for residential aged care. These changes focus on rooms priced above the Minister’s maximum accommodation payment amount, set at $750,000 as of 1 January 2025.
Key changes
Rooms priced above $750,000 (indexed annually from 1 July 2025) are only displayed on My Aged Care if a valid refundable accommodation deposit (RAD) approval is confirmed.
Providers had until 1 July 2025 to update RAD approval details for existing rooms in the My Aged Care Service and Support Portal (MAC SSP). From 1 July 2025, rooms with incomplete or incorrect RAD approval information will be removed from the portal.
Providers must publish the maximum RAD they intend to charge on My Aged Care, their website, and any resident-facing materials. Charging above the advertised amount is prohibited.
Provider requirements
To list a room price above $750,000, providers must submit the following in the MAC SSP:
- RAD approval number (required for approvals issued on or after 1 July 2024; not needed for earlier approvals).
- RAD approval letter in PDF format (used for verification, not publicly displayed).
The Department verifies submitted details against the RAD approval. If the approval is valid and matches, the room is published. If not, the request is rejected. Rooms priced at or below $750,000 do not require RAD approval for publication unless changes are made.
The Service and Support Portal User Guide – Part 1: Administrator Functions provides instructions for managing room details.
RAD approval process
Charging or advertising a RAD (or equivalent daily payment) above $750,000 requires approval from the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) or the former Aged Care Pricing Commissioner. Approvals last four years, and providers must reapply at least 60 days before expiry.
Without a valid approval, providers cannot charge new residents above the maximum amount. Conditional approvals do not permit advertising or charging above $750,000 until IHACPA issues a satisfaction of conditions letter. More details are available on the IHACPA website.
Approval expiry notifications
From 1 July 2024, providers with RAD approval details in the MAC SSP receive notifications at six, four, and two months before expiry. If an approval lapses, the associated rooms are removed from My Aged Care.
Overcharged payments
Providers who have charged above $750,000 without valid RAD approval must contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to address the issue. A fact sheet on overcharged accommodation payments is available.
Relevant fees and charges
According to the Schedule of Fees and Charges for Residential and Home Care (effective 20 March 2025), the maximum refundable accommodation deposit is $750,000, requiring IHACPA approval for higher amounts.
The maximum accommodation supplement is $69.79 per day, and the maximum permissible interest rate for refundable deposits and daily payments is 8.17% from 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025.
These changes aim to regulate high-priced room listings on My Aged Care, with providers needing to comply by 1 July 2025 to maintain visibility on the portal.
