15Aged Care Quality Standards

15  Aged Care Quality Standards

 (1) The rules may prescribe standards relating to the quality of funded aged care services delivered by a registered provider.

Note 1: These standards are the Aged Care Quality Standards: see section 7.

Note 2: Only registered providers in certain registration categories are required to be audited against these standards before registration: see paragraph 109(2)(d). Certain registered providers are required to comply with the standards as a condition of registration: see sections 142 and 146.

 (2) Without limiting subsection (1), the rules may prescribe standards about the following matters:

 (a) how registered providers must treat, and engage with, individuals seeking to access, or accessing, funded aged care services;

 (b) how registered providers must deliver funded aged care services, including governance arrangements and arrangements for planning and delivery of palliative care;

 (c) the physical environments in which funded aged care services are required to be delivered;

 (d) how registered providers must deliver quality and safe clinical care to individuals, including infection prevention and control procedures and arrangements;

 (e) how registered providers must deliver food and drink to meet the nutritional needs and preferences of individuals;

 (f) how registered providers must support individuals accessing funded aged care services in approved residential care homes;

 (g) how registered providers must manage and respond to feedback and complaints;

 (h) how registered providers must monitor and drive improvements to their delivery of funded aged care services.

 (3) Without limiting subsection (1), the rules may provide that a provision of the Aged Care Quality Standards applies to the following:

 (a) all registered providers;

 (b) registered providers in specified provider registration categories;

 (c) specified kinds of registered providers.

Periodic reviews of operation of Aged Care Quality Standards

 (4) The System Governor must cause periodic reviews to be conducted of the operation of the Aged Care Quality Standards.

 (5) The first review must be completed before the end of the period of 5 years starting on the day this Act commences.

 (6) Each later review must be completed before the end of each subsequent 5 year period.

 (7) The System Governor must give the Minister a written report of each review as soon as practicable after the review is completed.

 (8) The System Governor must cause a copy of the report of each review to be published on the Department’s website as soon as practicable after the Minister receives the report.