Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI)
About ACFI
The Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) continually work with the aged care sector to develop additional Aged Care Online Claiming functionality to help you do your business more efficiently.
In March 2008 the new Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) was implemented, which replaced the Resident Classification Scale. It was part of the government's $1.6 billion Securing the future of Aged Care for Australians package and has been designed to better match funding to the complex care needs of residents, reduce documentation required and achieve higher levels of agreement between aged care staff and department review officers.
Providers and services are able to send ACFI data to DHS electronically using the Aged Care Online Claiming website. To register for Aged Care Online Claiming complete a Registration or Aged Care Online Claiming form.
Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) rates 2011-12
The ACFI rates table has been designed to help you understand the rates for each ACFI category.
ACFI rates table 2011-2012 [PDF, 163Kb]
ACFI questions and answers
What is ACFI?
ACFI is the classification instrument underpinning the new funding model to pay subsidies to residential aged care services.
What are the methods of sending an ACFI application for classification to DHS?
The intention is that all ACFI application for classification will be captured electronically using the Aged Care Online Claiming website through either:
- the Business to Business (B2B) channel
- the File Upload channel
- the Web Form channel
However, if a provider and its services are unable to transmit the ACFI application for classification through the above electronic channels, then paper-based ACFI application for classification can still be sent to DHS.
What are the benefits of using online claiming compared to paper based forms?
You will benefit by:
- immediate submission of the ACFI assessment through either the B2B or Web Form channel
- no funding delays—ACFI funding starts from the date the form is transmitted and received online by DHS
- instant acknowledgement that your ACFI has been received by DHS
- faster feedback from DHS
- improved accuracy of data and payments due to less handling errors.
And for those that use the B2B channel:
- reduced paperwork
- improved access to data for use within business and delivery of care.
ACFI information and error message resolution guide
The ACFI information and error message resolution guide has been designed to help you understand the messages you may receive while transmitting Aged Care Funding Instruments (ACFI) events to the Aged Care Online Claiming website.
There are two types of messages that can be received when transmitting an ACFI:
- information messages – these may not prevent you from transmitting an ACFI, but may require an action to be performed before DHS can accept the ACFI
- error messages – these identify a problem with an ACFI you are trying to transmit, which requires an action to be performed before DHS can accept the ACFI.
Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) information and error message resolution guide [PDF, 539Kb]
Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) information and error message resolution guide [RTF, 461Kb]
ACFI system codes
| ACFI system code | Definition |
|---|---|
| ACC | Accepted—an event has been transferred to the payment system(s) and will be used to assess claims for payment. |
| ACF | Residential Classification Scale (RCS) rejected as ACFI is required. |
| BP | Being processed—an event has been received and validated within the Aged Care Online Claiming system. The event will then be included in the next transfer to the payment system(s) overnight. |
| HLD | Held—an event has been transferred to the payment system but has not yet been accepted or rejected. Important: a held event may need follow up to ensure it is resolved. Held events are not used to assess claims for payment. |
| REJ | Rejected—an event has been transferred to the payment system(s) but will not be used to assess claims for payment. Important: rejected events may need a new event to be submitted to ensure accurate and up to date information is used to assess claims for payment. |
How to convert the Reason for this Application section to an appraisal code type
| Reason for this application | Appraisal type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Six months after admission from hospital | CNR | A care recipient's care needs have been reassessed following the expiry of a return from extended hospital leave. |
| RCS expired | CNR | A care recipient's care needs have been reassessed following the expiry of their RCS. |
| Reappraisal 12 months after last appraisal | CNR | A care recipient's care needs have been reassessed voluntarily more than 12 months after the last reappraisal was performed. |
| Significant change in dependency | MCA | The reappraisal submitted where the care recipient has had a significant change in dependency. |
| Six months after a significant change in dependency | MCR | The reappraisal performed six months after the care recipient's significant change in dependency. |
| Initial appraisal with a new admission from hospital | NEH | New appraisal needed for care recipient who has entered care directly from hospital. |
| Initial appraisal with new admission from hospital as ‘No’ | NEW | New appraisal needed for care recipient who has not entered care directly from hospital. |
| Reappraisal of lowest classification care recipient | RA0 | The reappraisal submitted where the current appraisal for the care recipient does not attract any funding (i.e. an NNN ACFI, and S8 RCS or a care recipient paid at the SS8 RCS saved category). |
| Return from extended hospital leave | RFH | Care recipient requires a return from extended hospital leave appraisal. |
| Reappraisal at request of the Department | SEC | The Secretary has requested a reappraisal of a care recipient under Section 27–3 of the Aged Care Act 1997. |
| Transfer from another facility | TRA | Reappraisal following transfer of a care recipient within 28 days. |
Feedback/enquiries
To register your feedback or enquiries please use the Aged Care feedback/enquiries.
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Last updated: 11 April, 2012