Allied health minutes enjoy unexpected growth in July

July saw a much-needed change in fortune for allied health minutes in residential care as a 20% jump led to a positive period for care minutes overall. 

Elsewhere, Mirus Australia reported a downturn in ADS with small rural towns faring the worst, while claiming activity also dipped after receiving an end-of-financial year boost in June.

Care minutes continue to rise

While Mirus Australia’s data represents just one-third of the sector, it’s a positive sign that most elements of care minutes – even the non-direct care minutes – are on the rise.

“With less than two months to go before the sector’s direct care minute requirement moves up on October 1, we saw the reported industry average increase to nearly 206 minutes of direct care per day to our residents,” Rob Covino, Mirus Founder and Industry Lead, explained. 

“As of July, RN minutes came back above the 40-minute average requirement, achieving just shy of 41 minutes delivered per day. Allied health saw the greatest return as a percentage, jumping over 20% of average care time directed to residents across the sector.”

Breaking down the numbers, total care minutes increased by 1.2% in July, reaching 205.96 minutes per resident per day.

RN minutes grew to 40.8, a 2.75% increase, while allied health improved to 9.65, a 20.47% increase. Even diversional therapy/lifestyle minutes increased by 18.89%, although it still sits lower at 6.32 minutes per resident per day.

The small gains are a sign the sector recognises the importance of multidisciplinary care. 

Mr Covino acknowledged the next challenge will be meeting the new care minute standards from October 1: 215 minutes per resident per day, including 44 minutes of direct RN care. 

“But there is a catch,” he added, “You will have the flexibility to meet up to 10% of your service level RN targets with care time provided by your Enrolled Nurses. For example, if your service has an RN target of 44 minutes, 4.4 minutes of Enrolled Nursing can be counted.”

Ups and downs across the board

Mirus’ July industry analysis reveals a host of ups and downs with ADS and claiming activity leading the way for slight downward trends. 

“The sector reporting was mostly downwards throughout June as the industry ADS slid 14 cents and the regional cousins at Modified Monash 5 dropped 29 cents. However, they have a higher base of ADS finishing up at $282.32,” Mr Covino said.

In comparison, the industry average ADS was $269.63.   

“Total claiming activity bumped up after we reported lower than expected AMO activities in our last segment throughout June. This indicates that the AMOs were working through some significant end-of-year claiming backlogs as June is now adjusted to just above 7.6% of total claims,” he added.

“However, the July period saw claiming activity result in more of a consistent claiming, finishing just over 7%. The call out was the Modified Monash 5 who fell 2% in total claiming activities, achieving just under 6%.”

Voluntary claiming remains more consistent across the board with an industry average of 4.69% more in line with regional and remote providers.

Occupancy remained steady at 88% with short-term stays under six months still sitting at 20%. Mr Covino said both figures show that providers have not buckled under the pressure of traditional winter sickness. 

New admissions remain consistent, representing the overall trend of sector stability that’s present despite the external uncertainty surrounding aged care reform timelines. 

“The sector welcomed nearly a 2% jump in new permanent admissions across July, many of which appeared to come from the conversion of respite residents which slid nearly 12% against the achieved bed days from the previous reported month,” Mr Covino added. 

The average age at admission increased very slightly to 85.36. This subtle shift shows that residential aged care continues to be more aligned with older residents who likely have higher needs.