NDIS Minister Stuart Robert today announced an annual price review intended to develop “more intelligent” NDIS price controls which will ultimately lead to a deregulated market.
Speaking at the National Disability Services CEO forum, the minister said the review will examine whether the existing price control framework and other pricing related policies under the NDIS continue to be appropriate, or whether modifications are required.
The review focus will be on the price control frameworks for core supports around support workers and group-based, plan management and capacity building supports. These will include how price limits for capacity building supports should be indexed or determined annually and whether different price limits might be appropriate for different times. Also the options to allow therapists and other capacity building providers to recover the costs of consumables provided to participants as part of a support.
“Since my appointment I have heard your feedback loud and clear, and so as part of this process I have asked the National Disability Insurance Agency to ensure that any changes to the NDIS Price Guide and Support catalogue, in terms of support items and policy changes, are announced and published at least one month prior to implementation on July 1, 2020.
“We need your involvement in this review and are committed to providing you with more timely information on pricing so you have the confidence to grow your business to meet the needs of NDIS participants. We must work together in the development of more intelligent price controls, ultimately working towards a deregulated market,” he said.
Geographical classification will be reviewed to determine if modifications are required to the NDIA’s implementation of the Modified Monash Model and whether a loading should be applied in outer regional areas to account for the higher cost of service delivery. The review will also look at options to improve the flexibility for participants to purchase supports to meet their goals, and reduce administrative cost for providers.
The NDIA has released an issues paper that sets out the Review’s Terms of Reference and calls for submissions. Throughout the process, the NDIA will be consulting with stakeholders and will convene working groups to review the themes outlined for the review.
Providers, as well as participants, their families and carers, community, peak bodies and other sector representatives will have the opportunity to provide input into the review.
“The NDIA will collate feedback from these activities and will develop a draft report of findings. As the last step in the process, recommendations for proposed pricing changes will be presented to the NDIA’s Pricing Reference Group for advice and then, through the CEO, to the Board for approval,” the minister said.
At the forum, it was announced that former acting NDS CEO David Moody will be the new CEO.
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