- Hon Casey Costello
The Ministerial Advisory Group's independent report on aged care provides valuable insights to help guide future policy and funding decisions, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today.
"For too long, governments have kept kicking the aged care can down the road," Ms Costello says. "This Government appointed the Group because we wanted ideas for reform.
"New Zealand has very good aged care, provided by dedicated people. However, the way that these services are funded is outdated and does not recognise the future investment required. The current model is siloed and doesn't deliver a cohesive system.
"We said when we established the Group that we want a proper aged care system that provides the right type of care in the right place - and that allows people to transition between the type of care they need, that's easier to navigate and access, that's fair, and that is sustainable and will endure as our population ages.
"The Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) has produced a substantial report that sets out its views on the change that would be required to create that system. I want to thank them for their work."
The Group was established to provide independent, expert advice to the Government about how New Zealand can address the challenges in aged care, particularly as our population grows and ages. It was asked to consider the funding model needed to support sustainable services, how costs could be reasonably shared between those receiving care and the Government, and how aged care services can better connect with wider health services.
The MAG's report sets out a vision and 40 recommendations to develop an integrated aged care system.
Ms Costello said that the Government will consider the report's recommendations carefully before making any policy and funding decisions.
"This is a significant issue which has a real impact on peoples' lives, personal and government finances, the sector and the wider health system. We need to make the right decisions.
"We have directed the Ministry of Health to work with other agencies to develop advice for the Government on the recommendations, to support future policy and funding decisions to reform the aged care system."
The Government has invested to ensure the on-going sustainability of the sector and to drive operational improvements while longer-term work was undertaken, with funding to the sector increasing by a total of $446 million in the last three years. This year's funding uplift for the home care sector is still being negotiated.
