Aged care reforms: policy implications for rural and remote Australia.
In 1996, the Federal Government announced a draft of reforms in the aged care sector, including the controversial proposal to introduce upfront bonds for new nursing home residents with assets of more than $23,000. Following effective lobbying from welfare and church groups and pensioner organisations, the Prime Minister announced the axing of the bonds policy for nursing home residents in November 1997 and its replacement with an accommodation charge of $380 per annum for 5 years. The social justice and ideological underpinnings of these Aged Care Reforms remain contentious, and have fundamental and long-term policy implications for the provision of aged care services in rural and remote areas.
Lippert
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National Rural Health Alliance, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. nrha@ruralhealth.org.au
D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006291:Health Policy; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D011057:Politics; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*