Melissa Price blasts NDIS reforms as blow to remote providers

Member for Durack Melissa Price has slammed new changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme, warning the reforms will hurt regional WA’s practitioners and their clients.

The changes to the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, which came into effect on July 1, are part of the Albanese Government’s push to rein in the scheme’s rising costs.

The plan aims to reduce annual spending growth from 15 per cent to 8 per cent by aligning therapy prices with national benchmarks.

While Ms Price agrees the NDIS needs reform, she says uniform pricing ignores the higher costs of delivering services across remote areas like Durack.

“The NDIS has blown out beyond its original intent and clearly needs serious reform,” Ms Price said.

“However, that reform must be fair, informed and grounded in real world experience. Ripping funding out of the regions should not be the first step.”

Ms Price said she had been contacted by allied health professionals across Durack, particularly in the Pilbara, and the Kimberley, who fear the removal of regional loadings and reduced travel support will force them to cut services or shut up shop altogether.

“These are small, often women-led, businesses — speech pathologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists etc. — who have chosen to work in remote communities,” she said.

“These changes put their livelihoods, and their clients’ care, at serious risk.”

The Coalition has also raised concerns about the sudden nature of the announcement, which it says came with no warning and leaves little time for providers or participants to adjust.

“It is not feasible for providers and participants to adapt service delivery at such short notice,” Ms Price said.

“This is yet another example of the Albanese Government’s failure to consult the sector or understand the reality on the ground.”

A spokesperson for the National Disability Insurance Agency responded to Ms Price’s criticism saying “it’s important that NDIS participants are paying prices that are fair and in line with industry standards. In some cases, NDIS price limits exceeded the market rate by up to 68 per cent. “

The NDIA’s Annual Pricing Review recommended a cap on claimable travel rates and some modest changes to the hourly rate for some therapies.

“We heard from participants that excessive travel claims for therapy related services are draining participant’s plans faster than expected,” the spokesperson said.

“The updated therapy travel claiming rules encourage more efficient scheduling by providers and provide clear cost expectations for participants to help them get better value from their funding.”

“For participants living in remote areas, therapists can still claim a 40% above-rate price for services – and 50% for therapy provided in very remote areas. It’s also important to note that providers can continue to claim for travel-related expenses. “

However, Ms Price said she and the Coalition have written to the Minister for Disability and the NDIS, Mark Butler, calling for a three-month deferral of the changes to allow proper planning and consultation.

“The Government must explain how regional providers are expected to adapt without harming participants,” Ms Price said.

“The Coalition will continue to monitor the impact and hold the Government to account for any negative outcomes for NDIS participants.”

The National Disability Insurance Agency spokesperson addressed this claim, and further cemented the agency’s position.

“The NDIA is committed to improving access to NDIS support for Australians living in more regional and remote areas and is taking steps to address market gaps across Australia,” the National Disability Insurance Agency spokesperson said.

“These include working collaboratively with local communities in remote areas and focusing on a range of market interventions to improve participant access to the NDIS.”

The Kimberley Echo has contacted Minister for the NDIS Jenny McAllister for comment.