Key Takeaways
- Rapid Aged Care Access: MND patients aged 65 and older are now automatically classified under the 'urgent' priority, drastically cutting average wait times from nine months down to 30 days.
- Immediate Relief: This urgent classification applies retroactively, meaning individuals currently waiting for Support at Home funding will be immediately fast-tracked.
- Protected NDIS Pathways: The government has guaranteed the NDIS MND Priority Pathway remains secure, ensuring rapid reassessments and continued access to expert assessors as symptoms progress.
- Advocacy Success: Welcomed by MND Australia CEO Clare Sullivan, the announcement follows years of sustained advocacy to ensure government support systems work at the rapid speed of the disease.
MND Australia has welcomed a landmark Australian Government commitment to fast-track funding and assessments for people living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) across both aged care and the NDIS.
Recognising the devastating and rapidly progressing nature of the disease, the government has introduced crucial changes to ensure patients get help when they need it most.
Key updates include:
30-Day Aged Care Turnaround: All MND patients aged 65 and older will automatically be classified under the ‘urgent’ priority for aged care. This cuts average wait times from nine months down to just 30 days.
Immediate Relief: This urgent classification applies retroactively to those currently waiting for Support at Home funding.
NDIS Protection: The NDIS MND Priority Pathway has been protected, guaranteeing continued access to expert assessors and rapid reassessments as symptoms progress.
Clare Sullivan
MND Australia CEO Clare Sullivan celebrated the announcement, which follows years of sustained advocacy.
“This commitment recognises a simple truth: MND cannot wait,” Ms. Sullivan said. “The announcement shows the Australian Government is willing to work at the speed of this disease.”