NDIS Pricing changes: What you need to know
14 July, 2023
As we step into July 2023, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is set to implement new Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (previously called the Price Guide) for services and supports under the NDIS.
In this blog post, we will delve into the key aspects of the 2023 pricing changes to the NDIS and their potential impact on participants, service providers, and the overall disability sector.
What Are NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits?
Registered Providers of the NDIS like Focus Care, follow the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits set by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
Price limits are the maximum prices that providers like Focus Care can charge participants for their supports.
The price limits for supports and services under the NDIS undergo an annual pricing review by the NDIA. They help disability service providers, like Focus Care, determine how much they are able to charge for services. They also inform NDIS participants how they can use their funding.
The overall intention of the annual price reviews is to ensure that support workers and other support providers are fairly remunerated for the important work that they do in our community. They also help to ensure that providers can continue to deliver quality supports and sustain their services over time.
NDIS Pricing Changes from July, 2023
New NDIS pricing arrangements come into effect on July 1, 2023. It is important to note, that your NDIS plan will be adjusted to take into account the changes specified by these new pricing arrangements and price limits. It’s also important to note that these changes will not mean you will be worse off. To help manage these cost increases, the NDIA has also committed to increasing participants’ funding from 1 July 2023.
Supports Delivered by Disability Support Workers
Pricing arrangements for supports provided by your disability support workers will increase by 5.3%. This increase is a result of:
An adjustment to price limits as a result of the Fair Work Commission’s decision to increase award wages for support workers.
An extension of the temporary loading at 1% for another 12 months. This temporary loading was initially a response to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, this loading is expected to end on 30 June 2024.
An increase of 0.1% to reflect the cost of paid family and domestic violence leave that has been included as a result of the new Disability Support Worker Cost Model.
An increase to the Superannuation Guarantee Charge of 0.5%.
Nursing Supports
The price limits for nursing support will also increase in line with the Wage Price Index and Consumer Price Index.
Therapy Supports
There is no change to the pricing arrangements for therapy as the NDIA believes the current pricing for therapy supports remain competitive in this market.
Support Coordination and Plan Management Supports
Level 1 support coordination will be increased by 5.3%.
Unfortunately, there is no increase to the NDIS pricing arrangements for support coordination level 2 and 3, however the NDIA has indicated these increases may come in the future.
There is also no increase to the price limit for plan management supports.
The NDIA believes that the increase in the number of providers delivering support coordination and plan management in recent times, suggests that the current market price is still acceptable for the moment.
Other Supports
The category of "other supports" includes a wide range of additional services and items that are not specifically listed under other support categories. It includes things like transport assistance, social activities and home and vehicle modifications.
The NDIS pricing arrangements for other supports will increase by 4.36%.
Temporary Transformation Payment (TTP) Loading
The TTP is a payment that helps providers transition to the NDIS.
The TTP loading will be further reduced to 1.5%. The TTP Loading will cease from 1 July 2024.
Want To Know More?
You can find out more about the new Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits by visiting the NDIA website.
Although changes to NDIS pricing arrangements can be hard to understand, it’s important to recognise that these changes will not negatively affect our clients. Instead, the changes aim to provide fair wages for our hard-working support workers and to ensure that service providers can continue to provide high quality care over the long term.
Get In Touch With Us
If you would like to find out more about the changes, please contact us. You can also call us directly on 1800 362 871 to speak to one of our friendly head office staff.
