Welcome Boost to Providers; The NDIS National Price Guide (effective 1st July 2019)

The updated NDIS Price Guide 2019-20 is now a single National price guide meant to be used alongside the NDIS Support Catalogue 2019-20. This price guide has substantial changes reflective of a promise of exciting changes to address sector concerns and ensure participants continue to be supported in achieving their goals..

The price guide contains policy information and guidance for providers whereas the NDIS Support Catalogue contains support line item numbers, price limits and details to help clearly identify what is claimable against each support line item.

This Price Guide is principally concerned with NDIS supports that are subject to price limits and price limits therein are the maximum prices that Registered Providers can charge NDIS participants for specific supports. There is no requirement for providers to charge at the maximum price for a given support or service, and Participants and providers are free to negotiate lower prices.

Key updates effective 1 July 2019 you need to be aware of

• Price increases (general & specific) for therapists and attendant care and community participation
  • a minimum increase of almost $11 per hour for therapists and
  • up to a 15.4% price increase to the base limit for attendant care and community participation.
• The introduction of a Temporary Transformation Payment (TTP)
  • This conditional loading will assist providers to continue transforming their businesses in the move towards a more competitive marketplace. This replaces the Temporary Support for Overheads.
• Increases to remote and very remote loadings
  • The NDIA uses the Modified Monash Model (MMM) to determine regional, remote and very remote areas using a scale based on population size and locality

• Updates to travel, non face-to-face services and cancellation billing policies
• Updates to Assistive Technology and Home Modifications

Hierarchy of price controls in general

It is applied to groups based on:

1. The time of day that the support is delivered
2. The day of the week that the support is delivered
3. Whether the support is Standard Intensity or High Intensity
4. If the support is High Intensity then what is the level?
5. Whether the provider is eligible for the TTP or not

For group based supports

In addition to the above-mentioned criteria, it includes

1. The size of the group and ratio of staff to participants; and
2. Whether the support is provided in a Centre or in the community.  

The Support Catalogue includes item descriptors to assist providers to claim payments using a “best-fit” approach, and to assist participants in engaging and negotiating with service providers.

Increased price limits across listed supports at a glance

• 4.5% for supports listed under Assistance with Daily Activities and Social and Community Participation.
  • This is in response to the Fair Work Commission annual wage review decision and the Equal Remuneration Order
• 2.3% for capacity building supports, including support coordination and therapy.
  • This is in line with the ABS Wage Price Index
• 1.3% for supports listed under Consumables, Assistive Technology and Home Modification and Specialised Disability Accommodation.
  • This is to align with the ABS Consumer Price Index between March 2018 and March 2019.

The NDIA publishes separate price guides for Assistive Technology (Ref.) and Specialist Disability Accommodation (Ref.)

No-shows / Cancellation

• Earlier, late notice cancellation was anything after 3pm the day before a scheduled service but now described in two types:
  • less than two clear business days’ notice for a support that is less than eight hours continuous duration and worth less than $1000; and
  • less than five clear business days’ notice for any other support.
• There is now no limit to the number of cancellations a provider can charge but still excessive cancellations will be investigated.

Where can I find a copy of price guide & catalogue?

Click here to download the NDIS Price Guide 2019-20

Click here to download the the NDIS Support Catalogue 2019-20

How to get these changes implemented into your business?

It is important to note that Providers cannot increase service prices unless the agreement includes a clause that “prices will increase subject to changes to the NDIS Price Guide.”

• If you don’t have one then go for Service Agreement review at the earliest.
• If it does allow for price adjustments, you still need to communicate changes to the Participant(s); well ahead of time.