FOR THE INFORMATION OF PLAN MANAGERS & NDIS CLIENTSÂ
OF VISION PSYCHOLOGY AND M1 PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology Practices Not Required to Provide Service Agreements
On a reasonably frequent basis our clinicians or admin staff are asked for a Service Agreement in respect of disability related health supports or therapeutic supports such as psychology services that are provided to National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) clients.
Currently Service Agreements are not mandatory, except for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Supports.
Therefore as a Practice we do not provide Service Agreements.
Budget Guidance for Plan Managers and their Clients
We recognise that Plan Managers and NDIS Clients are keen to ensure that their NDIS funding is budgeted and spent appropriately to maximise the benefit to the client.
To assist plan managers in that process we advise that our Practice will invoice NDIS for disability related health supports or therapeutic supports including psychology services at the relevant capped rate per the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements.
Due to the nature of disability related health supports or therapeutic supports it is not possible for psychologists (or other clinicians) to accurately estimate the number of sessions that a client will require.
Further since a fundamental principal of the NDIS is that the client should have choice and control over how their plan funds are spent, we recommend Plan Managers discuss with their client or their guardian what they desire.
If the client says I want/need to see the psychologist fortnightly, then you can readily calculate the likely annual investment by multiplying the capped unit fee/session per the NDIS Pricing Arrangements by the number of fortnights in the year.
Plan Managers or the client guardian should substitute the relevant cost/session and frequency of visit to a psychologist (or other clinician) as appropriate.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.