COTA Australia welcomes the Bill and supports its purpose of enabling essential reforms to the aged care system recommended by the Royal Commission. We strongly encourage its passage through the Parliament.
COTA Australia welcomes this Inquiry as palliative care is an issue of great importance to older people and is often raised in forums hosted by COTAs around the country.
We know the CSHC is valued by cardholders as it provides eligibility for pensioner level PBS concessions and in principle for bulk billing of GP, other health service charges, as well as various concessions in different jurisdictions, sometimes at lower rates than for a pensioner.