What is it?
The 24/7 Registered Nurse Supplement was introduced from July 1, 2023 and is additional funding paid to providers to help meet the new 24/7 Registered Nurse Requirement. This additional funding is focused on smaller facilities (<= 60 Residents) so that they can employ extra RNs on site, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Want to know more about the 24/7 Registered Nurse Supplement and what incentives are available for 24/7 requirements? Check out our article here!
What about exemptions from the 24/7 RN Requirements?
An exemption from the 24/7 RN requirement is available for smaller providers in rural and remote areas. It exists to help manage RN staffing issues where it can be more difficult to attract and retain care staff.
It can be granted for up to 12 months at a time from July 1, 2023. Once a Facility has been approved, they will not be required to have at least one RN on-site (and on duty) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Details of existing exemptions can be found here: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/approved-providers-with-an-exemption-from-the-247-registered-nurse-responsibility
This exemption does not remove any other obligations to deliver care under the Aged Care Act 1997 and the Aged Care Quality Standards.
Exempt Facilities must still do the following:
- Deliver their mandatory care minutes responsibility
- Submit their monthly 24/7 RN report
Eligible Facilities must:
- Be located in an MMM 5, 6 or 7 area
- Have 30 or less operational places
- Have appropriate alternative clinical care management systems in place
If you’re eligible, and you need an exemption, you can apply directly to the Department of Health. You’ll need to fill out this form and email it to exemptions@health.gov.au. Once you’ve done this, the Department will inform you of the outcome, but you can also check the list at this link to see if your Facility has been approved for the 24/7 RN Exemption. Your exemption will start on or shortly after the request date.
Please note that a Facility which has an exemption in place at any point in the month, will not be paid the 24/7 RN Supplement for the entire month. For example, if an exemption is in place for the first week of a month, the 24/7 RN Supplement will not be paid at all for the entire month.
Providers must notify the Department of any material changes of circumstance that could impact their exemption. An exemption may be revoked if a Facility:
- Has greater than 30 operational places and no longer meets the eligibility criteria
- Breaches a condition of the exemption
- Does not take reasonable steps to meet the clinical care needs of residents
- Receives a sanction or notice from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
Want to know more about the 24/7 Registered Nurse Supplement and what incentives are available for 24/7 requirements? Check out our article here!
Tom Hart
Lead Funding Analyst
