THE federal government has given aged care providers in Hume a funding boost in the recent federal budget, according to Member for Hume Angus Taylor.
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Mr Taylor said providers receiving the viability supplement would benefit from a 20 per cent increase in the supplement.
"This recognises the unique challenges facing operators in regional and rural locations.
"Worth $54 million, the viability supplement is particularly helpful for residential aged care providers like Murrumburrah Harden District Hospital and Southern Cross St Lawrence Apartments in Harden who face additional challenges to larger operators."
Mr Taylor said the boost for providers in smaller rural communities was part of a broader Budget funding increase for all aged care providers.
"As part of our election commitment we have repurposed the previous government's Aged Care Workforce Supplement, which placed too much red tape on providers," he said.
"We are increasing payments by 2.4 per cent to all home and residential aged care providers from July 1, 2014."
He said the new funding arrangements would also give aged care providers the flexibility to direct support into areas where it would bring greatest benefit.
"This and other red tape reduction measures in the Budget will allow providers to focus on what they do best - providing quality care to older Australians," Mr Taylor said.
He said from January 1, 2015, the Commonwealth would stop paying residential aged care providers the Payroll Tax Supplement, as it was inappropriate that the Federal Government subsidise a state/ territory government tax.