Over 333,000 NDIS participants could be affected by NDIS ‘price freezes’

Key points:

• More than 333,000 eligible NDIS participants were assisted by NDIS plan managers last year, as per recent data from the NDIS
• Price ‘freezing’ is affecting NDIS plan managers and businesses, causing high-quality services to leave the industry
• Managing Director of My Care Planner Gabby Hall commented about the negative impact of restrictive pricing reviews on plan management organisations and their NDIS clients

Another NDIS support coordination and plan management service is set to close with Minister Bill Shorten’s ‘price freezing’ expected to continue.

My Care Planner provided ‘expert NDIS plan management and support coordination services,’ according to its website.

Approximately 333,000 participants used a plan manager last year for some or all of their NDIS planning, according to recent data from the NDIS.

NDIS participants can manage allocated funding themselves, use a plan manager or allow the NDIA to pay providers on their behalf. 

Plan managers can help participants understand their allocated funding and support as well as pay their service providers. Support coordinators can help participants identify how much support coordination is required and how this can be tailored to meet the participant’s needs and goals.

However, the recent Annual Pricing Review Report released by the NDIS means that funding for support coordinators and plan managers has not increased, making it difficult for some organisations to stay afloat. 

The NDIS stated that they would increase ‘the price limits for psychologists, nurses and other supports based on how much wages and the cost of living have gone up,’ without mentioning the impact of price freezing on NDIS plan managers and coordinators.

Managing Director of My Care Planner, Gabby Hall stated that the NDIS price freezes directly impacted her organisation which supported NDIS participants to manage their funding.

“[…] Since establishing My Care Planner, we have faced immense challenges due to the government’s decision to freeze support coordination — Level 2 and Level 3 — and plan management pricing,” she said. 

“The NDIA has forced my hand in giving two months’ notice to nine of the most dedicated and hard-working employees I’ve ever had the pleasure of working alongside. Cutting corners, offering a wide and conflicting range of services and inflicting harsh billable hours on my staff would betray everything that has made My Care Planner a place we were all proud to be part of.”

“The NDIA’s expectation that small businesses like ours can stay viable with pricing set half a decade ago, while also compensating, training and retaining quality staff and maintaining registration as an NDIS provider, is frankly disconnected from reality.”

The My Care Planner website contains blog posts including what to ask when choosing a plan manager and how to find out your eligibility for support coordination services. Providing information to potential clients means that they can make informed decisions regarding their NDIS plan management.

However, Minister Shorten recently explained some reasons why prize freezing and cuts to the NDIS plan managers and support coordinators could resolve other NDIS issues in a national television interview.

“There’s an unacceptable proportion of fraud going on,” he said.

“I wish that perhaps for the last ten years, there hadn’t been naivety about how the Scheme attracts some ‘spivs and shonks’ wherever there’s Government money.”

In another television interview, Minister Shorten expressed concern regarding the inflation of NDIS support for provider benefits.

“[…] It’s far too common — unethical conduct where some service providers inflate prices to rip off people with disabilities on the NDIS,” he said.

“[…] Some service providers think that once someone’s on the NDIS, they have a God-given right to bump up the cost of equipment or cancellation fees for services or, indeed, just the price of services.”

NDIS funding is currently allocated to 649,623 eligible participants, as per information on the NDIS website.

However, Ms Hall expressed disdain about general comments made by Minister Shorten about plan managers and support coordinators. 

“As with any other industry, there will always be a small few that are not doing the right thing,” she said. 

“[However], what the Minister has failed to recognise is that his sweeping zingers about this sector of the industry are irresponsible and damaging.”  

“[…] How are we meant to feel valued in this industry when the Minister sees us in this way? It genuinely boggles my mind,” she said.

It’s not only support coordination organisations that are negatively affected by closures but also the clients who experience further challenges.

Finding a new provider is possible through the NDIS website, but participants will need to re-explain their situation and build a relationship with the new support coordinator or plan manager.

Ms Hall identified the negative impact of her organisation’s closure on NDIS participants who relied on the service for support.

“[…] With no viable option but to close, our clients are the ones who will suffer the most from this decision — they will need to seek alternative supports, recount their stories and re-establish connections with new providers,” she said. 

“After many years of being supported by the same small team of people at My Care Planner who have gotten to know them beyond their NDIS plans, this will be a big adjustment for many individuals and families.”

 

Are you a plan manager or support coordinator? How have the NDIS price freezes affected your livelihood?

Let the team at Talking Disability know on social media. 

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