Policy and Advocacy Disability Update July

NDIS 2024 Pricing Decision 

On 28 June, the NDIA released its annual pricing review final report, which sets NDIS prices for the coming year. The NDIA recommended no change to the pricing arrangements for therapy supports, the pricing code that OTs use when billing plan managed NDIS clients. The NDIA also recommended a reduced short-notice cancellation policy for non-Disability Support Worker-related supports (such as therapy services) from seven clear business days to two clear business days, effective from 1 July 2024. Members can check the NDIA’s updated Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2024-25 Guide for more information here.

OTA made a submission to the NDIA annual pricing review in April 2024, calling for an increase to therapy support pricing to reflect inflation. OTA is extremely disappointed that the NDIA has ignored calls from the allied health and disability sector for urgent investment in the NDIS provider market to address serious financial pressures and ensure service availability for participants.  This is particularly disappointing given that some prices have been selectively increased or received indexation.  

We know that this announcement will be very difficult for members, who have been unable to increase prices for five years, despite increasing cost of living pressures and inflation. OTA is continuing to advocate strongly for an NDIS price increase, directly to NDIA and Government and via AHPA (Allied Health Professions Australia). 

OTA has consistently argued that the way that NDIA calculates prices doesn’t accurately reflect the true cost of providing NDIS OT supports. We have undertaken our own research to better understand OT NDIS pricing issues and provide a strong evidence base to inform NDIA’s decision making. 

We are pleased that the NDIA has recognised that it needs to do better in the way it calculates prices, and over the next year the NDIA has committed to more significant work to strengthen the NDIS pricing model, including appointing an independent expert to oversee a review of the NDIS pricing structure ahead of next year’s Annual Pricing Review. 

Read the NDIA’s update and final report here.

NDIA is hosting a number of provider pricing information sessions in July, find out more and register here. 

Read OTA’s member statement here.

NDIS Bill update 

OTA has been actively engaging with Parliamentarians to ensure they understand our concerns regarding the potential impacts of the NDIS Bill on occupational therapists. On 19 June, OTA’s CEO Sam Hunter, along with other OTA representatives, met with Senator Hollie Hughes, the Opposition’s Deputy Spokesperson on NDIS. During this productive meeting, we shared our concerns. 

In the week of 24 June, the NDIS Bill was introduced to the Senate and subsequently debated. The Greens and the Opposition collaborated to refer the Bill back to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee for further review, with a report due by 5 August 2024. This referral pauses the Bill's passage, allowing the Committee to conduct a more in-depth inquiry, which we hope will include examination of state and territory positions on NDIS reforms, including insights on foundational supports. 

The Committee is accepting submissions until 12 July, and OTA will be reiterating our concerns about the Bill, which remain unaddressed by recent Government amendments made in the lower house.

Read more about this here or to make a submission find out more here.

NDIA engagement 

OTA continues to engage with the NDIA including via a recent meeting to discuss the NDIA’s early planning for new psychosocial early intervention services, and meetings with the NDIA’s Technical Advisory Branch to discuss ways to support OTs providing NDIS services.