Submission to the Productivity Commission - National Disability Long ­term Care and Support Scheme

Abstract

This submission encourages and accepts the premises of a National Disability Long‐term Care and Support Scheme (the National Disability Scheme): • No fault • Entitlement based • Support provided in accordance with need for support • Focused on provision of and encouragement for habilitation and rehabilitation • Providing support for services to people with a disability, rather than income support • Integrates people with disabilities in society • Administratively simple and timely The following matters will be addressed • Criteria for the National Disability Scheme should be those set out by Woodhouse in 1973‐4 • Need to set aside provisions of current compensation systems that do not meet the principles of the NDS • Access to Medicare and other community wide health financing systems for all Australians requiring medical, hospital, medicines and other health services • The need for improved funding for habilitation and rehabilitation services • At the commencement of the Scheme, coverage should be limited for people first claiming after age 55 • Funding • Education and training