Report into the impact of the ACFI on resident care

Have you ever wondered how the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) has impacted resident care since its introduction?

Prior to the implementation of the ACFI, residential aged care facilities received no direct funding for pain management interventions through the Residential Classification Scale (RCS).

The ACFI, however, creates incentives to provide interventions to those residents who need it. In addition to providing funding so that residents are as free from pain as possible, it provides opportunities for the delivery of evidence-based, active treatments which develop independence, function and the quality of residents’ lives; the ACFI business rules’ encouragement of rehabilitation is especially significant when compared to previous funding models.

Rorting is prevented by a strict Government validation process, which was non-existent for physiotherapy-delegated interventions in the previous funding model.

Although the ACFI funding model may not be perfect, and there are industry concerns, feedback has indicated that:

• There has been an increased in access to pain management interventions
• The ACFI provides some flexibility in frequency, duration & complexity of interventions
• There are incentives for facilities to improve resident outcomes
• Industry monitoring occurs, with representation across several health disciplines
• The scope of physiotherapy in aged care has grown since the introduction of the ACFI
• There can be encouragement of rehabilitation