In early 2026, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission began working with Support at Home providers to improve compliance with the new Aged Care Act 2024. One of the most common issues identified so far is pricing transparency.

What's required

Under the new legislation, providers must publish their most common prices for services on both the My Aged Care website and their own website, using the correct billable units. These prices must be reviewed every two months. Providers must also agree on the prices they will charge each participant before services begin.

From 1 July 2026, government-set price caps will apply to most services on the Support at Home service list. This is intended to prevent overcharging and make it easier for older people and their families to compare providers on a like-for-like basis.

What the Commission is finding

The Commission's early prudential reviews have identified several recurring issues: prices not published or not kept up to date, inconsistent use of billable units, service agreements that don't clearly set out pricing before services begin, and financial and prudential management systems that don't meet the requirements for providers in registration categories 4 and 5.

What to do

Review your published pricing to ensure it reflects your most common prices and uses the correct units. Set a recurring review cycle — at minimum every two months — and make sure your service agreements clearly outline costs before care begins. If you're in registration categories 4 or 5, confirm that your financial and prudential management system is compliant.

While Coverage focuses on quality standards conformance rather than financial compliance, getting your pricing right is part of the broader organisational governance picture that sits under Standard 2 — The Organisation.