December NDIS Price Guide Updates
There have been some minor changes to the NDIS Price Guide and Support Catalogue 2019-20. These changes are effective 1 December 2019. We have written a summary of the five changes you should be aware of:
1. The reclassification of six areas as ‘remote’
In July the NDIA reclassified some areas as ‘remote’ for planning and pricing purposes. Six more locations have been reclassified as ‘remote.’ These locations include:
Western Australia: Merredin, Boulder, South Boulder, and Victory Heights in WA
New South Wales: Hay South in New South Wales
Queensland: Comet in Queensland.
Providers delivering services in these areas can backdate claims from 1 July 2019 until now, only with participant agreement. the time the participant agreed to the changes to 1 July 2019 – as far back as July 2019.
2. Short Term Accommodation name change and price increase
The NDIA has increased price limits for Short Term Accommodation and Assistance. There are increases for weekdays, weekends and public holidays. The increases cover 1:1 to 1:4 support ratios. The changes ensure sustainable cost levels for these supports.
The NDIA has also included ‘respite’ in the title and description of all Short Term Accommodation and Assistance line items. Participants can buy respite services as a short-term accommodation support to give family members/carers a break.
3. The inclusion of a new support type called Medium Term Accommodation (MTA)
MTA has been introduced for NDIS participants who need transitional assistance. MTA is for periods up to 90 days. MTA consists of the accommodation component of care only. The support component of the care must be claimed through the appropriate support line items. Participants are also responsible for meeting their own food and everyday living costs.
4. New support line items for dietitians
Two new line items have replaced existing dietitian line items to rectify a technical issue. There is no major change here.
5. New ‘Core’ support items introduced in October can now only be claimed for disability-related health supports
There is some background to this change. In October, 90 new disability-related ‘health supports’ became claimable under the NDIS. The new support items were introduced under 'Core.’ There was some confusion as descriptions under 'Core' were the same as similar disability supports listed under 'Capacity.' People were unsure about which supports they could claim and with what funding. The NDIA has clarified that these support items are for disability-related health supports only. They are not to be used for other disability support needs.
These changes may not seem as large as changes earlier this year. They are still important, especially the introduction of the term ‘respite.’ Carers’ access to planned respite has been an issue since the start of the NDIS. There has not been the funding available for respite, and providers are struggling to continue offering it. Back in 2017, the Productivity Commission Inquiry into NDIS Costs acknowledged that: “Without respite services, the sustainability and success of the scheme are imperilled.” This move by the NDIA represents more than a price increase. It’s a step forward in acknowledging the importance of respite for the scheme and carers.
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