NDIS Pricing Updates: What You Need to Know in 2025

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is undergoing significant pricing reforms aimed at enhancing sustainability and aligning service costs with broader market rates. These changes, effective from 1 July 2025, impact various services and have elicited diverse responses from stakeholders.

Key Pricing Changes Effective 1 July 2025

• Therapy Services: The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has announced reductions in maximum fees for certain therapy services:

  • Physiotherapy: Reduced by $10 to a national price limit of $183.99 per hour.

  • Dietetics and Podiatry: Each reduced by $5 to $188.99 per hour.

  • Psychology: Standardized nationally with an increase of $10 to $232.99 per hour.

• Support Workers: Hourly rates for disability support workers have increased by just under 4%, reflecting adjustments in minimum wage standards across care

• State-Based Pricing Removal: Differentiated pricing based on states and territories for services like physiotherapy and psychology has been eliminated, moving towards a unified national pricing structure.

  
  

Rationale Behind the Reforms

The NDIA's decision follows an extensive data-driven review, incorporating over 10 million transactions from sources such as Medicare, private health insurance claims, and comparable government schemes. The review revealed that NDIS participants were often charged up to 68% more than non-NDIS clients for similar services. These pricing adjustments aim to ensure that participants are charged rates comparable to the general population, addressing concerns about the so-called "NDIS premium."

Stakeholder Reactions

The pricing changes have sparked significant debate:

• Providers and Advocacy Groups: Many service providers and disability advocates have expressed concerns that the fee reductions could lead to service closures and reduced access for participants. Dietitians Australia highlighted potential risks to participant health due to diminished access to essential services.

• NDIA's Position: The agency maintains that the adjustments are necessary for the scheme's sustainability and to ensure equitable pricing. They emphasize that the changes are informed by comprehensive data analysis and aim to protect participants from being overcharged.

  
  

Additional Developments

• Plan Reassessments: The NDIA has intensified plan reassessments, with nearly half resulting in revocations, as part of efforts to ensure appropriate allocation of funding.

• Participant Numbers: The number of NDIS participants has surpassed 700,000, with a significant portion being children with autism or developmental delays.

Looking Ahead

As the NDIS continues to evolve, these pricing reforms represent a significant shift towards aligning service costs with broader market rates and ensuring the scheme's long-term viability. While the changes aim to enhance fairness and sustainability, ongoing dialogue with stakeholders will be crucial to address concerns and ensure that participants continue to receive the support they need.

For more detailed information on the pricing updates and their implications, visit the NDIS Pricing Updates page.