Key points.
- Speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy can continue to be funded by the NDIS
- Alternative and complementary therapies that aren’t evidence-based will no longer be funded
- Effective immediately: Some therapies may require explicit approval to be included in your NDIS Plan
- By 1 February 2025: Updated pricing arrangements and clearer definitions will be fully implemented.
Recent changes to the NDIS have raised questions about funding for therapy-related supports.
We know that therapies like occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physiotherapy play a crucial role in your daily life and wellbeing. We’re here to help you navigate these changes and understand how they might affect you.
What’s changing?
The NDIS has updated its guidelines to clarify what therapies can be funded. These changes aim to ensure all funded supports are evidence-based and directly related to your disability support needs.
Therapies not funded.
The NDIS has said that certain therapies aren’t considered evidence-based and therefore won’t funded. These include:
- Chiropractic services
- Osteopathy
- Myotherapy
- Massage therapy (unless provided by an allied health professional for disability-related purposes)
- Alternative therapies like homeopathy or naturopathy
- Wellness therapies (such as life coaches, hypnotherapy, kinesiology)
- Energy healing practices (such as reiki).
You can read the complete list of unfunded therapies here.
New pricing arrangements.
Starting from 1 October 2024, the NDIS has made important changes regarding the pricing of certain support services, which might affect how some therapies are delivered and billed.
What’s changing?
The NDIS wants to ensure that all funded therapies align with the new definitions of supports and meet specific criteria.
- If your NDIS Plan explicitly states that a therapy is reasonable and necessary, you can continue accessing it at the higher funding rate.
- If not, you may access approved therapies using your community participation budget as:
- One-to-one sessions
- Rate: $67.56 per hour
- Requirement: Must be delivered by a registered provider.
- Group sessions
- Rate: $193.99 per hour
- Requirement: Must be delivered to at least four participants by a registered provider
- Benefit: To enhance community inclusion and participation.
What do these changes mean for you?
If you’re currently receiving therapies that are affected by the changes, here are 5 steps you can take:
- Review your NDIS Plan. Familiarise yourself with the NDIS’s list of funded and non-funded therapies. Check if you’re receiving ‘non-funded’ therapies and discuss them with your planner or support coordinator.
- Seek clarification. If you’re unsure, contact the NDIS or your plan manager for guidance. They can help interpret how these changes affect your specific situation.
- Adjust your NDIS Plan if necessary. Work with your planner to include other, evidence-based therapies that support your goals.
- Explore other options. Consider evidence-based therapies that address your needs. Remember that you may require explicit approval for some therapies (like play therapy or EMDR therapy) and they must be delivered by qualified professionals.
- Stay informed. Keep an eye on official NDIS communications for further updates.
