Public hospitals charge a daily accommodation fee to long stay patients. This goes towards the cost of their care. The fees are in line Commonwealth legislation.
Public hospital funding is reduced for long stay patients who no longer need acute hospital care.
A long stay patient is a person who:
- has been in hospital for more than 35 days without a discharge period of more than 7 days
- doesn't have a valid Acute Care Certificate
- is waiting for a place in a nursing home
- still needs a certain level of care.
The 35 day period starts on the date of admission. Fees apply from the 36th day.
We won't charge inpatients when they need acute care and need to be in an acute hospital setting. We'll check your acute care needs every day and issue an Acute Care Certificate if you need one.
How are the fees charged?
If you need to stay in hospital after your 35 days and if you don't have an Acute Care Certificate, you'll need to pay the fee.
A member of the treating team and/or a social worker will discuss this with you and/or your next of kin.
The long-stay fee is 87.5% of a single aged pension and the maximum daily rate of rental assistance.
If you need to know more about our long stay charges, email our Accounts Receivable Team at ddhsd_revenue@health.qld.gov.au