Funding increase for home based support workers

14 December 2004

Funding increase for home based support workers

Home support providers have received an increase averaging 6% including GST for provision of services for people under the age of 65.

This equates to an additional $1.20 an hour for personal care services, and 80 cents an hour for household help.

"New Zealand's disability sector, like its overseas counterparts, is under pressure from increasing disability, a focus on community care and fewer informal supporters," says the Ministry of Health's Deputy Director General Disability Services, Suzanne Win.

Ms Win says one of the issues facing publicly funded health and disability services are changes to the Holidays Act 2003.

"The Ministry is asking a sample of providers for information on the Act's financial impacts and will advise the Government on options for addressing any concerns," she says.

The Ministry continues to work with the Home Health Association to try to improve sustainability.

The Ministry, ACC and DHBNZ have agreed in principle to scope out a project looking at service delivery models aimed at providing greater flexibility for providers.

Already mandatory standards are in place for residential care for disabled people and voluntary standards have been agreed for home-based care.

ENDS

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