From 1 July 2018, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) implemented new pricing arrangements based on recommendations from the Independent Pricing Review (IPR). 

A new 2.5 per cent temporary loading on attendant care prices would help providers with their overheads. The loading would be 2.5 per cent in 2018-19 and 1.25 per cent in 2019-20. Taking into account growth in wage and overhead costs, the price limit for standard intensity 1:1 attendant care supports would increase by 7.6 per cent.

How does this affect participants and providers?

• Participant plan budgets will be adjusted automatically to match the new prices. 
• Providers can apply the new NDIS prices from 1 July, consistent with their service agreements. However, the Terms of Business require providers to declare relevant prices to participants before delivering a service (including complying with any notice period or cancellation terms).

Note: Previous information released by the NDIA advised that new prices could only be charged when existing services agreements expired. However, the NDIA has since clarified that this is not the case.

Other new arrangements, which started on 1 July:

• More flexible group community participation supports with increased price limits, including allowance for capital costs when these supports are delivered in a specialist centre;
• A new option for Short Term Accommodation (STA) to allow for a 1:3 support worker to participant ratio;
• More flexible arrangements for provider travel and appointment cancellations.

Read the original article from the NDIS website.

Read peak body National Disability Services' (NDS) further advice on this pricing changes.