Ripped off home-care recipients eligible for refunds

“Rogue” businesses that have overcharged older Australians for home care services will be ordered to pay back customers.

The federal government is introducing new protections for elderly people in the home care packages program.

It follows a damning report released the same day as the federal budget which revealed patients were waiting on average 12 months to get into residential aged care or access support at home.

Labor is spending tens of billions of dollars on aged care, but the sector remains under pressure due to residential homes being at capacity as more older Australians require help, and a workforce shortage due to low wages compared to other healthcare jobs.

Under the changes, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission will have the power to order refunds for services where providers are found to be overcharging.

The commission will also be able to take action against providers who don’t issue monthly statements, and require regular public reporting on investigations and enforcement action.

Reports showing different prices for support at home will be published so older Australians and their families can see how their provider compares.

Aged Care Minister Sam Rae said the government had listened to older Australians and their families who called for stronger protections against “rogue” market prices.

“We’ve listened, and we’re acting,” he said on Tuesday.

“We’ll keep working methodically, in the interests of older people, to make sure Support at Home delivers what it promised: quality care, at fair prices, close to home.”

The government will also encourage providers to limit price increases to no more than two per year, so older people can budget their packages.

Advocacy group Council on the Ageing, as well as free support service Older Persons Advocacy Network will receive extra funding from the federal government to better support people receiving care.