Concerns NDIS pricing could hit quality
There are fears high-quality care for people with disabilities could be compromised because of new price controls on supports and services through the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
The scheme’s agency announced on Monday a 4.5 per cent increase to prices for daily activity and community participation supports.
Capacity-building support prices will rise by 1.94 per cent while capital-related supports will increase by 2.1 per cent.
There are no price increases to therapy services.
National Disability Services chief executive Ken Baker said two-thirds of providers are worried they won’t be able to provide NDIS services at existing prices.
He said 50 per cent of providers were concerned the prices would compromise the quality of supports by forcing them to employ less skilled and experienced staff and lower their supervision ratios.
Monday’s announcement of 2017-18 prices won’t allay those concerns, Dr Baker said.
Source: The Australian