Members will be pleased to learn that recent communications from the Federal Department of Health and Ageing confirms that they classify remedial massage as an allied health service and therefore included it under the Home Care Package (HCP) Program if there is an assessed care need for the service.
Allied health professionals must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), or in the case of remedial massage therapists who are self-regulated, must be accredited as a member of an Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) affiliated national professional association such as Massage & Myotherapy Australia.
Although remedial massage therapists and myotherapists are not considered allied health, they have been categorised as allied health services under the HCP Program.
These developments follow significant public consultation to which Massage & Myotherapy Australia presented a strong case for remedial massage therapists, who are members of a professional association, and subject to the requirements of the National Code of Conduct for Healthcare Workers. The submission illustrated the similarities between AHPRA regulation of registered health practitioners and the self-regulation requirements of professional massage therapists. You can read that submission here.
Importantly, remedial massage is available through an Approved Provider, that is approved by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner to deliver Australian Government subsidised home, residential or flexible care services to eligible older Australians.
Approved Providers have responsibility to determine whether a particular service will maintain the care recipient’s capabilities to be well and independent, safe in their home and connected to their community.
Importantly, a care recipient can access remedial massage therapy services that are provided by a remedial massage therapist through an Approved Provider when the service is:
- required due to age-related functional decline and/or client cannot access disability supports
- in line with best practice guidance for treatment
- delivered by an accredited provider
- not concurrently being funded by another government program
Remedial massage therapists can also provide massage services to people living in retirement homes and aged care facilities who are over 65, who have a HCP.
The responsibilities of Approved Providers are detailed in the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018, including:
- being responsible for the care you deliver
- assisting care recipients to make decisions about quality care
- managing government subsidies
- managing care recipients’ fees and payments
This means Approved Providers are responsible for vetting people engaged to deliver approved services.
Under the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018, the Commission is responsible for assessing and making decisions on applications from organisations seeking to become an Approved Provider.
In order to fulfil its role of ensuring that the care and services offered are more affordable and accessible to eligible care recipients, the Commission is authorised to approve applications that meet all criteria from organisations wishing to provide services.
For members who wish to investigate becoming engaged to delivering massage services through the HCP Program, a list of Approved Providers operating in your local community can be accessed via the My Aged Care website.