Understanding the structure of NDIS funding, as well as the NDIS Price Guide, is critical for both participants and service providers.
The Pricing Arrangement and Price Limits document is another name for the NDIS price guide. It describes general pricing structures and service price restrictions so that participants may ensure they are getting good value for their money from their assistance and can properly manage their funds and budget.
Although it is not considered legislation, it essentially defines what can be claimed under the NDIS plan and the price restrictions for each form of support. The guidance is also useful for service providers in determining the maximum rate they can charge for their services. This does not imply that you must be charged the highest rate, and you can always try to negotiate lower rates to make your cash stretch farther.
The full NDIS price guide is available on the NDIA website here. The whole guide, on the other hand, has over 2500 things, making it difficult to determine what is relevant to you. This is why we’ve put together this quick guide to understanding the NDIS financing structure and navigating the price guide.
All NDIS supports, as well as their corresponding financial budgets, are divided into three categories: core supports, capacity building supports, and capital supports.
Your core support budget comprises services to assist you in completing daily living tasks and working towards your long-term goals.
This includes your essential daily necessities, which are divided into four areas;
– Consumables on a daily basis
– Help with daily self-care activities,
– Assistance with social and recreational activities, as well as community involvement
– Transport
Because the core support budget is rather flexible, you can use cash from one support to cover another as long as they are both in the core support category.
Your capacity building budget includes resources to help you gain independence and skills.
This funding is more closely aligned with the goals mentioned in your plan (for help determining your precise goals, see our goal-setting guide). The following categories of capacity building assistance exist:
– Better life choices
– Better day-to-day living
– Obtaining and retaining employment Improved health and well-being
– Improved living conditions
– Better learning Better connections
– Increased social and community involvement
– Coordination of assistance
Because this financing is less adaptable than your core support budget, any approved funds cannot be transferred from one category to another.
Your capital support budget includes financing for assistive technologies, equipment, house or vehicle adaptations, and capital costs.
This can include things like assistive devices or home improvements. This budget is primarily for one-time items, such as a necessary handrail. This budget’s funding is not flexible, and your funds can only be spent for the precise item to which they have been assigned.
Recognising Line Items
All invoices and reimbursement requests must include line items in order for the NDIS to process the invoice accurately under the appropriate category. Line items include a brief description of the service as well as a unique code. With so many line items mentioned in the NDIS price guide, it can be difficult to know which one to utilise.
This is when good plan management comes into play.
We can help participants, providers, and support coordinators ensure that all billing is accurate and claims are made from the appropriate categories.
We’ve also created a helpful NDIS Price Guide, which details some of the most regularly used codes and maximum pricing restrictions. It also includes some useful information on the various funding categories and what supports go under each one.