New NDIS plan framework delayed to mid-2026

The NDIA has advised that they have delayed the implementation of the new planning framework, part of 2024 NDIS Act changes, previously planned to commence in September 2025.

NDIA has stated that the implementation will now be delayed to mid –2026 (no specific date has been provided) and that the decision "is based on feedback from the disability community to take more time to design and deliver the new way of planning”.

Given the scale and pace of current NDIS reforms, and issues with the PACE system, new funding periods and other recent changes, OTA is pleased that the NDIA is taking more time to enable participants and providers to adjust.

OTA is continuing to advocate for a slowdown of NDIS reforms to ensure the changes are made in consultation with participants and clinicians and that they do not directly or indirectly affect the delivery of supports.

New two-year time limit for NDIS claims

Following changes to the NDIS Act in 2024, NDIS claims now have a time limit. From 3 October 2025, participants, nominees and plan managers will need to submit claims within 2 years of a support's start date. Before this change, there was no time limit.

NDIS has said that the change will:

• reduce the chance of missing a claim

• make it easier to check and approve payments.

The current 12-month grace period ends on 2 October and from 3 October, NDIA’s systems will automatically reject claims that are more than 2 years past the support start date. Older claims can be submitted up until midnight 2 October.

Read more here.

Medicare changes – reduction of timeframes to submit bulk bill claims

Government has announced that following a recent legislative amendment, the timeframes to submit bulk bill Medicare claims has now been reduced to one year (reduced from two years).

Government has said that it has reduced the timeframe to submit bulk-billed Medicare claims to improve the integrity of Medicare.

The change applies to all paper-based and electronic claims for bulk-billed Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) services. A bulk-billed service is when a patient agrees to assign their Medicare benefit to a health professional as full payment for a complete medical service. The health professional submits the claim and receives the benefit directly from Services Australia. The patient incurs no out-of-pocket costs.

The change commenced on 5 September 2025:

• Bulk-billed services rendered on or after 5 September 2025 may be automatically paid if claimed up to one year from the date of service

• before 5 September 2025 may be automatically paid if claimed up to two years from the date of service.

Existing arrangements to make an application for late lodgement of claims outside of the allowable timeframe remain in place.

DVA policy change – GPs and clinical psychologists can now diagnose anxiety and depression conditions

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) policy on veterans claims for service-related mental health conditions previously required that only a psychiatrist could provide a diagnosis of mental health conditions for the purpose of initial liability claims.

DVA has reviewed this policy and has now expanded the list of providers whose diagnosis can be accepted by DVA for initial liability claims for anxiety or depressive conditions. Providers who can now provide diagnoses for initial liability claims for depressive and anxiety disorders now include, in addition to psychiatrists:

• treating General Practitioners (i.e. general practitioners with an ongoing treating relationship with the veteran)

• treating Clinical Psychologists (i.e. clinical psychologists with an ongoing treating relationship with the veteran)

• clinical psychologist reports provided as part of Defence’s Medical Employment Classification Review (MECR) process or obtained during service and within 1 year of separation from the ADF.

More information can be found here.