Physical Therapy Program Principles Consultations with a broad range of stakeholders within the Australian aged care sector were undertaken regarding possible changes to the ACFI. Stakeholders included representatives from peak bodies, leading industry groups, government ROs, and the ACFI Technical Reference Group. There was widespread interest in the development of a new, broadly-based Therapy Program in the new R-ACFI. Questions covered in the consultations focusing on the content and funding approach for the new Therapy Program included: Does Specified Care and Services ensure the provision of a Therapy Program? Should we include a Therapy Program in the R-ACFI as a “price signal”? How to structure such a program – ‘package up’ the pain interventions into a broader physical Therapy Program? Should it include a broader range of therapeutic inputs from a variety of AHPs, providing physical therapies, with flexibility around the program design and the AHPs who will deliver it? Would a new single domain or question focused only on therapy be the best way to target the program and provide a basis for accountability? Could the funding for the program be re-allocated from the pain management items into a Therapy Program? Should the Therapy Program be based on a Consumer Directed Care approach, with individualised goals? How could the Therapy Program be designed for accountability purposes? Should it be time based Therapy Program? What documentation requirements would be needed? Stakeholders were very supportive of developing a broadly-based Therapy Program that incorporated the pain items as well as using the ACFI funding from the pain claims in the new Therapy Program. As an outcome of the feedback and comments from the consultations and other input from subject matter experts, the following principles were developed to guide the design of the Therapy Program: Therapy programs should encompass a broad range of physical therapy interventions to ensure (where relevant) inclusion of a maintenance of general wellness and a restorative approach. Therapy Programs should have an evidence-based underpinning and approach. The Programs should include a wide range of therapeutic inputs from a variety of health professionals. Therapy Programs will be designed and delivered as 1:1 or group activities. Consumers should be provided with opportunities to directly influence the type and features of any program designed for them.
Physical Therapy Program Principles Consultations with a broad range of stakeholders within the Australian aged care sector were undertaken regarding possible changes to the ACFI. Stakeholders included representatives from peak bodies, leading industry groups, government ROs, and the ACFI Technical Reference Group. There was widespread interest in the development of a new, broadly-based Therapy Program in the new R-ACFI. Questions covered in the consultations focusing on the content and funding approach for the new Therapy Program included: Does Specified Care and Services ensure the provision of a Therapy Program? Should we include a Therapy Program in the R-ACFI as a “price signal”? How to structure such a program – ‘package up’ the pain interventions into a broader physical Therapy Program? Should it include a broader range of therapeutic inputs from a variety of AHPs, providing physical therapies, with flexibility around the program design and the AHPs who will deliver it? Would a new single domain or question focused only on therapy be the best way to target the program and provide a basis for accountability? Could the funding for the program be re-allocated from the pain management items into a Therapy Program? Should the Therapy Program be based on a Consumer Directed Care approach, with individualised goals? How could the Therapy Program be designed for accountability purposes? Should it be time based Therapy Program? What documentation requirements would be needed? Stakeholders were very supportive of developing a broadly-based Therapy Program that incorporated the pain items as well as using the ACFI funding from the pain claims in the new Therapy Program. As an outcome of the feedback and comments from the consultations and other input from subject matter experts, the following principles were developed to guide the design of the Therapy Program: Therapy programs should encompass a broad range of physical therapy interventions to ensure (where relevant) inclusion of a maintenance of general wellness and a restorative approach. Therapy Programs should have an evidence-based underpinning and approach. The Programs should include a wide range of therapeutic inputs from a variety of health professionals. Therapy Programs will be designed and delivered as 1:1 or group activities. Consumers should be provided with opportunities to directly influence the type and features of any program designed for them.