COVID-19 and NDIS Pricing Changes
The NDIA recently announced pricing changes effective 25 March. These focus on allowing NDIS providers to continue delivering supports to participants. They are part of some broader changes Minister Stuart Robert announced for COVID-19 and the NDIS. The NDIS Price Guide and Support Catalogue have been updated to reflect the changes.
These measures are positive during this difficult time. They will benefit providers, workers and participants and their families. It is important businesses can continue operating and delivering essential supports those that need them.
Below is a brief summary of the updates to pricing:
Temporary increase in price limits
The price limits of the following critical supports have increased by 10 per cent:
Assistance with Daily Life (excluding Supported Independent Living)
Assistance with Social and Community Participation
Improved Health and Wellbeing
Improved Daily Living Skills
The increase in price limits will be in place for 6 months, so they are only a temporary measure. The NDIS will review this measure in 3 months.
The NDIA has updated the line items in the Support Catalogue to include the 10 per cent increase. This means providers can continue to claim under the current line item. It is easy to identify which line items have the 10 per cent price increase. A separate ‘COVID Loading’ column has been added to the Support Catalogue.
Providers should review and abide by service agreements they have with participants. They should also inform participants before implementing price increases.
Please note: After the NDIS review, the 10 per cent increase on price limits was removed, effective 1 July 2020.
Cancellations
The definition of short notice cancellation has been broadened. A short notice cancellation now defined as:
a) When a participant does not show up for their scheduled support, or
b) When a participant has given less than 10 business days’ notice for cancelling a support.
Providers can charge 100% of the fee associated with the activity if either of the above occurs. Please note, providers are only permitted to charge if they have not found alternative billable work for the relevant worker. They must pay the worker for the time that would have been spent providing the support.
There is no limit on the number of cancellations that can be claimed. Providers are still encouraged to minimise cancellations by delivering services in innovative ways. They also have a duty of care to reach out to participants if they cancel more than normal.
As with the increase in price limits, this change will be in place for 6 months. It will be reviewed after 3 months.
Please note: After the NDIS review, the NDIS cancellation period was reduced from 10 days to levels under the previous policy. This was effective from 1 July 2020.
New line items for Support Coordination
There are three new support coordination items in the Support Catalogue. These are under Core Supports, Assistance with Daily Life:
01_790_0106_8_3 - Level 1: Support Connection
01_791_0106_8_3 - Level 2: Coordination Of Supports
01_794_0132_8_3 - Level 3: Specialist Support Coordination
The line items are duplicate items already claimable under Capacity Building Supports. The new items will allow participants to use funds more flexibly so they can access these supports from Core or Capacity Building budgets. The 10 per cent price increase will not apply to these supports.
Advance payment
This is not included in the Price Guide or Support Catalogue. It is still worth mentioning since it is one of the measures announced by the NDIA to help providers continue delivering supports.
Some providers will receive a one month advance payment. The purpose of this payment is to increase providers’ immediate availability of funds and help retain workers. The amount providers receive is the monthly average of claims made between December 2019 and February 2020. Providers need to have had a payment in February 2020 and at least one other payment in December 2019 or January 2020 to be eligible. The payment must be repaid but it is interest free. If you need more information on the payment it is worth looking at the Payments and billing page on the NDIS website.
Are you unsure of how to implement these pricing changes in your organisation and prepare for COVID-19? Centro FREE is continually updated with important pricing changes to keep providers up-to-date. Sign up to Centro FREE now for a complimentary COVID-19 Preparedness Checklist that can help your organisation manage during the outbreak.
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