The Price Guide and Support Catalogue 2020‒21 published 29 June 2020 also reflect the end of some of the temporary arrangements introduced in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Other clarifications include:
In response to feedback, providers have until 30 June 2021 to transition to the new pricing arrangements for group-based supports.
From 1 July 2020, providers will have the opportunity to use either the new streamlined pricing arrangements for group-based supports or continue to use the 2019‒20 arrangements.
The new arrangements introduced for 2020‒21 remove the worker to participant ratio and instead allow providers to claim against the appropriate 1:1 support line item. This means providers can accurately apportion time spent with a group and among members of that group. Providers can also claim for non-face-to-face supports rather than having an allowance for non-face-to-face supports built into the price limit.
The current 2019‒20 arrangements will be retained in the NDIS Price Guide 2020‒21 until 30 June 2021 and allow for the support items covering the range of ratios to allow for one support worker to different numbers of participants and have allowances built into the price limits for non-face-to-face supports.
- Evening support times and shift boundaries
The Price Guide 2020‒21 clarifies evening support times as any support to an individual participant that starts after 8.00pm and finishes at or before midnight on a single weekday, unless that support is a public holiday support or a night-time sleepover support.
The Price Guide also clarifies arrangements when a support crosses a shift boundary and the same worker delivers the entire support. The higher of the relevant price limits applies to the entire support and providers can claim against the relevant support item.
From 1 July 2020, the changes to establishment fee rules mean that a provider can only claim an establishment fee once per participant across all plans.
The Price Guide and Support Catalogue 2020‒21 have been amended to include the following support items:
- Self-Management Capacity Building (01_134_0117_8_1)
- Skills Development and Training (09_009_0117_6_3)
- Innovative Community Participation (09_008_0116_6_3).
The new look Price Guide aims to be clear and transparent about pricing arrangements and make it easier to find information for specific supports by including applicable line items and claiming rules within the one document.
In addition to the Price Guide updates outlined as part of the Annual Price Review, the Price Guide 2020‒21 also incorporates pricing details to support other significant initiatives from 1 July including:
- Psychosocial recovery coaches—to offer added support to participants with a psychosocial disability.
- Six new line items introduced to support participants to achieve outcomes.
- For more information visit the mental health page
- Individualised Living Options—two new line items, to give people with disability access to alternative living arrangements within the Assistance with Daily Living Support Category:
- Individualised Living Option – Exploration and Design
- Individualised Living Option – Support Model
- More information will be provided in July including the funding bands that will used when making this determination.
- Providers interested in further information about ILO can email the NDIA ILO Project Team at [email protected].
- Supported Independent Living (SIL)—set price limits for SIL supports will replace the current quoting and negotiation process.
- The NDIA is conducting a review of SIL price controls and endorsed recommendations will be included in a Price Guide released later in 2020. Until this review is complete the price limits for assistance with daily living will apply to SIL supports.
- Existing plans containing agreed SIL quotes will continue until the end of their 12 month term, at which point the new SIL price limit will apply.
- A new Provider SIL Pack was published 30 June 2020.
- Supports in Employment—to support increased employment opportunities for participants:
- Five new line items introduced so eligible providers can claim for different times of day and days of week to deliver supports in employment.
- Two new line items introduced to allow eligible providers to transport one or more participants to / from a community-based support and claim non-labour costs associated with provider travel
- Amending the unit of measurement for ‘Employment related assessment and counselling’ support item from ‘each’ to ‘per hour’
- Introducing new establishment fee rules for Supports in Employment
- For more information visit the Supports in Employment page.
