What the NDIS 2022-23 Price Guide means for you as a support worker

Posted in:

Disability
Support Worker

Price limit increases

From 1st July 2022, price limits in NDIS participants’ plans for all NDIS supports delivered by disability support workers were increased by 9 percent.

Importantly, the NDIA announced that for all participants who have a current NDIS plan in place, their funding would automatically be increased to cover these pricing changes.

What is the NDIS Price Guide?

NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (previously the NDIS Price Guide) assist participants and disability support providers in understanding how price controls for supports and services work in the NDIS. NDIS price limits are set by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), which administers the NDIS. Price limits vary depending on the service, timing, intensity of support and location.

The NDIS price guide sets the maximum rates that can be paid by plan and agency-managed NDIS participants. These maximum rates are intended for use by NDIS Registered Providers who tend to have higher overheads reflecting their regulatory responsibilities. As a non-registered, small business with lower overheads, you have the opportunity to charge a more cost-effective rate benefiting you and your clients.

NDIS price limits are listed in NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits and are regularly updated by the NDIS, with the most recent change on 1 July 2023.

Support worker travel

Some support workers who travel long distances to provide core support services may now charge for two-way travel if the client is located in a regional or remote area. The client must be informed about, and agree to, the charges before the travel occurs. Note that the NDIA arbitrates what constitutes remote and regional.

As per the new NDIA Price Guide, the maximum time that can be billed per trip is 30 minutes (60 minutes return), or 60 minutes (120 minutes return), depending on the remoteness of the location.

Changes to short notice cancellation

The NDIA has changed the definition of ‘short notice’ for support workers.

A cancellation is a short notice cancellation if the participant:

does not show up for a scheduled support within a reasonable time, or is not present at the agreed place and within a reasonable time when the provider is travelling to deliver the support; or
has given less than seven (7) clear days’ notice for support.

As an independent support worker on Mable, you have the freedom to add a cancellation policy to your service agreement, following a discussion with your client, in order to set expectations and manage last-minute cancellations.

Resources for more information

Learn more about NDIS pricing arrangements and Price Limits for 2022-2023, access a PDF outlining the latest NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Read a further explanation of the recent pricing changes and how those changes might affect you, or take a look at our comprehensive guide to the NDIS.

FAQs

No, the guide must be followed when supports are delivered to NDIS participants for a support that is either agency-managed or plan-managed.

Updated Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits are released from time to time, when relevant economic impacts warrant changes.

The latest changes to price limits address known cost pressures on providers, reflecting changes to Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services (SCHADS) Industry Award conditions (effective 1st July 2022), costs associated with managing the COVID-19 pandemic, NDIS quality and safeguards regulatory requirements, the Fair Work Commission’s recent wage decision and the superannuation guarantee charge increase.

As an independent support worker on Mable, you have the opportunity to set your prices following discussions and negotiations with your clients. Traditional NDIS providers tend to charge the maximum prices as their prices include costs associated with audits, service agreements, quality and risk control. However, independent support workers don’t need to account for these costs. If you’re looking to provide support to people with disability, it’s important to have a conversation about whether they are NDIS funded and ensure the agreed rate will fall within the NDIS price limits for the items included in their plan.