NDIS reform Bill passes Parliament
On 22 August 2024, the government passed the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024 [1]. The new laws will come into effect 28 days after Royal Assent.
A part of the government’s goal is to contain the costs and growth of NDIS participants active under the scheme. However, National Cabinet has agreed to share the costs of supporting the scheme equally between Commonwealth ($11.6m over two years) and jurisdictional governments. [2]
The government has outlined that NDIS participants may need to pay for their needs assessments. This may surmount in significant costs for NDIS participants that may indirectly impact osteopaths. The addendum to explanatory memorandum [3] outlines that:
“… the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits is updated at least annually, to account for changes to inflation...”
Osteopathy Australia reminds osteopaths that they can bill under ‘Other Professional’ line item in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits for self-managed and plan-managed participants. [4]
References:
[1] National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024 [Internet] [Cited 2024 Aug 23]. Available from: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r7181
[2] The Conversation. The NDIS reform bill has been passed – will it get things ‘back on track’ for people with disability? [Internet] [Cited 2024 Aug 23]. Available from: https://theconversation.com/the-ndis-reform-bill-has-been-passed-will-it-get-things-back-on-track-for-people-with-disability-237024
[3] The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia. National disability insurance scheme amendment (getting the NDIS back on track no. 1) bill 2024 addendum to the explanatory memorandum. [Internet] [Cited 2024 Aug 23]. Available from: https://bit.ly/3ADV6DV
[4] NDIS. Pricing arrangements [Internet]. [Cited 2024 Aug 23]. Available from: https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/pricing-arrangements#ndis-pricing-arrangements-and-price-limits