Establishment of Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority marks milestone in aged care pricing

Foundations for greater alignment of funding

Since 2011, IHPA has worked with all Australian governments to improve the health outcomes of Australian through its role in pricing public hospital services.

The Chair of IHACPA acknowledges the significance of the growing agency.

IHACPA is committed to the same principles of transparency and evidence-based approaches as part of its work to develop and refine classifications, costing and pricing that improves the quality of care for older Australians receiving aged care services.’

Equitable funding for residential aged care

IHACPA’s advice will now inform Commonwealth Government decisions on the pricing of residential aged care and respite care using the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) from 1 July 2023.

'This will include undertaking analysis of cost, activity and financial reporting data, and consulting with stakeholders and advisory committees to ensure government funding is informed by the actual costs of delivering care and aligns with the person-centred quality care expected by the community.

The enabling legislation also gives effect to the transfer of functions from the Aged Care Pricing Commissioner to IHACPA. From 12 August 2022, IHACPA will continue the work of the Commissioner taking on the responsibility for reviewing and approving refundable accommodation deposits in residential aged care priced above $550,000.

‘I acknowledge the work of the Aged Care Pricing Commissioner, whose focus on working with stakeholders to ensure fair and informed decisions has improved consumer understanding and reduced administrative burden for aged care providers since 2014. This work has enabled refundable accommodation deposits to reflect the value of accommodation,’ commends Mr Tune AO PSM.

Applications and resources previously accessible on the Aged Care Pricing Commissioner website are available on the IHACPA website and will be processed via the same easily accessible application process. 

Future directions of aged care pricing

IHACPA’s extended program of work will initially focus on the residential aged care and residential respite care funding model.

A key feature of IHACPA’s vision for ensuring costing and pricing is representative, fair and responds to the challenges in the sector, is the authority’s commitment to consultation. 

IHACPA will seek input from stakeholders on its policy approach, methodology and high-level principles through an annual consultation paper that will govern its advice. 

The resulting Pricing Framework for Australian Aged Care Services will be reviewed and updated annually to reflect new costing and pricing priorities and developments and improve the sustainability and efficiency of the aged care system over time.’

– ENDS –

Media enquiries 

IHACPA Communications and Media Section

E: communications.ihacpa@ihacpa.gov.au  P: 02 8215 1100

LinkedIn: Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority

Twitter: @IHACPA

About the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority

The Independent Hospital Pricing Authority (IHPA) is an independent government agency established under Commonwealth legislation as part of the National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA), which sets out the intention of the Australian Government and state and territory governments to work in partnership to improve health outcomes for all Australians.

IHPA’s primary responsibly has been to enable the implementation of national activity based funding through the annual determination of the national efficient price (NEP) and national efficient cost (NEC) since its establishment in 20111. The NEP and NEC Determinations play a crucial role in calculating the Commonwealth funding contribution to Australian public hospital services, and offer a benchmark for the efficient cost of providing those services as outlined in the NHRA.

Delivered on 11 May 2021, the Federal Budget 2021–22 contained two significant measures that impact IHPA’s current role of pricing for public hospital services.

The first measure, in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, is the expansion of IHPA, which was renamed the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA).

Following the passing of the Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response) Bill 2022, the renamed IHACPA will take on the role of providing costing and pricing advice on residential aged care and residential respite care as it is renamed to IHACPA effective 12 Friday 2022.

Under this measure, IHACPA will inform Australian government decisions on annual funding increases in residential aged care from 1 July 2023. IHACPA will also have a role in providing pricing advice on home aged care and community aged care services from 1 July 2023.

The second measure involves working with the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care and key stakeholders to support reform to the Prostheses List, which aims to reduce the cost of medical devices used in the private health sector and streamline access to new medical devices.

The IHACPA website provides further information on the agency’s expansion. Interested stakeholder may seek to receive email updated on by subscribing to IHACPA mailing list.