Evaluation of Uptake of COVID-19 Temporary Allied Health Services for Residential Aged Care in Australia

To the Editor:
A key recommendation of Australia's Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety COVID-19 Special Report was to increase provision of allied and mental health services to residents of residential aged care facilities (RACFs).1 Strict restrictions were implemented in RACFs in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate infection risk (eg, lockdowns), and significant concerns for residents due to reduced mobility, increase in sedentary behaviors, and potential declines in mental health were raised.1 In response, in December 2020, the Australian government announced temporary government-supported Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) allied health services specific for RACF residents. These services were available to RACF residents whose health care was being managed under an eligible MBS-funded treatment, management, or care plan (eg, general practitioner management plan, multidisciplinary care plan). This included an additional 5 face-to-face services for specific physical therapies (physiotherapy, exercise physiology, and occupational therapy), above the standard allocation of 5 services a year, aimed to reduce deconditioning and improve resident health and well-being.2 This national population-based study aimed to evaluate the uptake of these temporary COVID-19 MBS allied health services by RACF residents in 2021.