The Tasmanian Home
and Community Care
(HACC) Program
People less than 65 years of age (or less than 50 years of
age if Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander)
Client Fees
(used to expand and enhance the Tasmanian HACC Program)
Department of Health
and Human Services
Fees in the Tasmanian Home and Community
Care (HACC) Program
Fees are payable for many services provided through the
Tasmanian HACC Program. Service provider organisations will
provide advice whether fees are payable for a particular service;
how much the fees are; methods of payment of fees; and the
provisions that apply if a client has difculty in paying fees.
Fees are retained by the service provider and reinvested in
additional service delivery.
Fees are not charged for:
• assessment or reassessment of a client’s care needs
• advocacy
• counselling, information and education
• allied health services
Scale of Fees
This scale applies to the following service types:
• Domestic Assistance • Personal Care
• Social Support • Home Maintenance
• Respite • Home Modications
• Community Nursing
The policy for home modications provides that the client
generally pays for the cost of materials. Detailed advice is
available from the service provider.
Services provided to workers compensation clients will be
charged at full cost as advised by the relevant service provider.
One Visit Per
Week
Two or More
Visits Per Week
(Capped)
Pensioner $5.00 $10.00
Non Pensioner $20.00 $30.00
Workers
Compensation
Clients
Full Cost Full Cost
The Fee Cap
Regardless of how many services a person receives, or how many
service providers are involved, fees for the above service types
are capped at $10.00 per week for pensioners and $30.00 per
week for non pensioners.
Fees for meals, centre day care, and community transport are not
subject to capping arrangements.
Your Rights and Responsibilities
Service providers are required to ensure that client rights are
protected and promoted. Your Service Provider should give you
a copy of the brochure – Tasmanian Home and Community Care
(HACC) Program Rights and Responsibilities.
Fees for Meals, Transport and Centre
Day Care
These services are considered to be normal living expenses.
Fees are payable for all occasions of service for these activities
and would generally not be waived (see advice on Waivers
below) by the service provider. Each service provider sets their
own fee schedule for these service types. Typically a meal will
cost what the service provider pays; a visit to a day centre may
cost $2; and community transport fees will be based on public
transport rates less transport concessions – bearing in mind that
many community transport services involve door to door service.
Waivers or Fee Reductions
You may not have to pay HACC fees if you spend a signicant
amount of your income on health related goods and services.
Your Service Provider will explain this to you at the initial
assessment. Your Service Provider will be able to provide you
with a Fee Waiver Application form, and can provide you with
assistance to complete the form.
You can request a review of your fees or apply for a waiver at
any time.
Condentiality
It is your right as a client to have an advocate support you at any
interviews or interaction with your service provider. An advocate
can be a family member, a friend, or an independent advocate
from Advocacy Tasmania.
Advocacy Tasmania offers a free service. They can be contacted
as follows:
South: 6224 2240
North: 6331 0740
North West: 6441 0201
Freecall all regions: 1800 005 131
Reviews of Decisions about Fees: Full Waivers
or Partial Waivers of Fees
If you have concerns about fee or fee waiver decisions made by
your Service Provider the following process should be followed:
• You (or your advocate) should contact the Services Manager
of the organisation that provides you with services.
• The Service Provider will provide details of an independent
advocacy service if required.
• The Service Manager will review the processes that were
followed and check that fees are being charged correctly –
or not.
• The Service Manager will consider reducing or waiving your
fees while the review is underway.
• You should receive a written response within 28 days of
contacting the organisation concerned. This response should
include information about the decision and advice on any
further steps to be taken.
If the review process is not satisfactory the matter may be
referred to the Health Complaints Commissioner.
You will not be disadvantaged or penalised as a result of seeking
a review of fees.
Payment Options for HACC Fees
Due to differences in organisation size and structure the payment
options available may differ from one organisation to another.
Your Service Provider will provide you with information on how
to pay your account.
• As a general rule a client may make payment of fees to their
support worker – however if this does occur the client should
insist on receiving a receipt.
• All service providers can accept payment by cash or
cheque – however making payments through the mail is not
recommended.
• Many service providers accept payment by direct debit.
• Many service providers accept payment by credit card.
• Payments for fees can be made in person at
Service Tasmania.
• Fees payable to the Department of Health and Human
Services can also be made by Centrelink deduction. Contact
your Centrelink ofce and quote Reference Number
5565064208K to arrange payment.
• Arrangements to have accounts issued by the Department
of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to be paid by credit
card over the internet, or by direct debit, can be made by
contacting the DHHS Fees Unit on 03 6236 5848.
Ofce of the Health Complaints Commissioner
Ground Floor Bathurst Street, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000
GPO Box 960, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001
Freecall Tasmania: 1800 001170
Local Call Australia: 1300 766 725
Fax: 03 6233 8966
Email: [email protected]v.au
Contact Details:
Department of Health
and Human Services
GPO Box 125
Hobart, TAS. 7001
Phone: 1300 135 513
www.dhhs.tas.gov.au
