NDIS Price Guide 2020-21
The NDIS Price Guide 2020-21 has been published. It is effective 1 July 2020. Most of the changes are a result of the Annual Price Review.
Price limits in this Price Guide have been affected by various factors including:
The result of the Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2019-20
Movement in the Consumer Price Index
Changes to the NDIA’s Disability Support Work cost model
The end of some of the temporary arrangements introduced in response to COVID-19.
Overall, there has been a general decrease in prices but this does differ across line items.
The new Price Guide has clarified many definitions. We have pulled out those which we found to be the most significant for providers below.
Level 1 to 3 high intensity supports
The NDIA have amended the definition of the high intensity support levels 1, 2 and 3. The new definitions link the different price limits to the skills and experience of the support worker. These are set out in the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Industry Award 2010.
Time of day, day of week
The definition of time of day, day of week has been clarified. Providers can now claim based on when a support is delivered to a participant. This will be instead of the shift of the worker used to deliver that support.
Evening support times and shift boundaries
The Price Guide clarifies evening support times to be any support to an individual that starts after 8pm and ends at or before midnight. It must be on a single weekday.
The Price Guide also specifies the arrangements for when a support crosses a shift boundary and the same worker delivers the entire support. In this situation, the higher of the relevant price limits applies to the entire support. Providers can claim against the higher support item with agreement from the participant.
Establishment fees
More providers will be eligible to charge an establishment fee to help with one-off costs. This may include assessing a participant’s needs, creating a service agreement and setting up service bookings. A provider can only claim an establishment fee once per participant across all plans.
Group-based supports
There will be new group-based support pricing arrangements from 1 July 2021. Providers can start using these new arrangements now, or they can continue to use the current arrangements up until 30 June 2021.
The new arrangements introduced for 2020-21 remove the worker to participant ratio. Providers instead must claim against the appropriate 1:1 support line item. To calculate claims, providers need to apportion time spent with a group and among members of that group.
Capital Centre Costs
There are new line items to claim for capital centre costs. This is for providers delivering group-based supports under the new pricing arrangements as discussed above. Providers can claim a capital allowance for each participant in addition to the cost of the support worker. This was previously included in the price limit but is now separate.
Provider travel
Providers will be able to claim non-labour transport costs associated with provider travel. This is in line with activity-based transport arrangements. The Price Guide outlines the reasonable level of these non-labour costs. While these are not price controlled, non-labour costs must be agreed on with the participant.
Other updates
The new Price Guide also incorporates details to support other important Government initiatives. These include:
Psychosocial recovery coaches
Individualised Living Options
Supported Independent Living
Supports in Employment.
The new Price Guide contains many changes and has given providers a lot to take in. We’ve summarised some of the main changes here but not all of them. If would like all the details, have a look at the Price Guide as well as the Annual Price Review.
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