澳大利亚老年护理巨头Opal Healthcare因不当收取高等日常生活费(HELF)，被澳大利亚老年护理质量与安全委员会责令向约350名居民进行退款和抵免，总额近200,000澳元1。该公司对本应免费的服务进行了收费，违反了相关规定1。
Opal Healthcare管理澳大利亚148家养老院，服务超过13,000名居民1。公司发言人表示，在2月推出HELF后进行了修改，约2%的居民收费需要反转，公司于3月通知监管部门并纠正了账单1。高等日常生活费由澳大利亚政府在11月引入1。
针对此事，政府已出台改革措施，禁止提供商对2025年11月前原本免费的服务收取HELF1。老年护理质量与安全委员会主席Liz Hefren-Webb表示："我们期望所有提供商按照规则和义务收费，居民理解他们在支付什么"1。老年护理部长Sam Rae指出："我们已明确表示，为老年澳大利亚人收取他们以前免费获得的服务是不合理的"1。
Opal Healthcare has been forced to refund and credit nearly 200,000 Australian dollars to approximately 350 elderly care residents following regulatory action over improper charging practices 1. Australia's Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission discovered that the provider had charged residents for services that should have been offered free of charge, prompting intervention by government authorities 1.
The dispute centers on Higher End Living Fees (HELF), which the Australian government introduced in November 1. According to a company spokesperson, Opal Healthcare made modifications after implementing HELF in February, with billing corrections required for approximately 2 percent of residents 1. The company notified the regulator of the issue in March and corrected the affected bills 1. Opal Healthcare operates 148 aged care facilities across Australia serving more than 13,000 residents 1.
Government officials and regulators have emphasized the importance of transparent and compliant charging practices. Liz Hefren-Webb, chair of the quality and safety commission, stated: "We expect all providers to charge in accordance with the rules and their obligations, with residents understanding what they are paying for" 1. Sam Rae, the aged care minister, added: "We have been clear that charging older Australians for services they previously received for free is not acceptable" 1. In response to the incident, authorities have introduced reform measures prohibiting providers from charging HELF for services that were free prior to November 2025 1.
评论
还没有评论，欢迎留下第一条。