Elements of the Agreement
Your details
This section needs to include:
- Client details
- Name and details of an appointed Representative, if any
- Where will services be delivered i.e. the clients address
- Where will notices be delivered - this can be an email address or a postal address
Security of tenure
This section provides you with security of continued service.
There is a requirement in the Aged Care Act to give surety to clients that their Agreement will not be cancelled except in certain circumstances such as when the client has not met their obligations, for e.g. not paid fees they are required to.
Fees
The Agreement will list the Case Management fee, a Package Management fee and the Exit fees that the Package Provider will deduct from the HCP funds.
The Agreement should also be accompanied by the Providers Home Care Pricing Schedule that will list the general costs of some common services and will also include the Providers Case Management and Package Management fee.
There may also be a clause that states how fee changes will occur and under what circumstances.
Signature Section
This will allow either you and/or your Reperesentative to sign and agree to the Home Care Agreement and stipulate the date the Agreement has been entered into.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you sign the Agreement before the take up expiry date of your assigned home care package. If you are unsure what the take up expiry date is, please refer to the letter of assignement sent by the Government (via My Aged Care) informing you that you have been assigned a HCP and that you must take up the HCP by a certain date.
You will not need to inform the Government that you have taken up the HCP as this is the responsibility of the Ptovider. The Provider must inform the Government within 28 days of entering into the Agreement that the HCP has been taken up.