Ahead of the publication of the findings and recommendations of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Review, the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) reaffirms its commitment to an effective, equitable and fully funded NDIS. 

The APA also calls for broader reforms to ensure that all individuals with disabilities can access essential physiotherapy treatments and supports.

Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in enhancing the functional abilities and mobility of individuals with disabilities, fostering social and economic participation and inclusion.

The APA concurs with the initial findings of the Review, recognising the need to place the NDIS within the broader context of support for all people with disabilities. Beyond the NDIS, publicly funded access to physiotherapy supports remains scarce, leaving many individuals with disabilities without essential care.

The APA maintains a firm stance on NDIS billing, endorsing the government's commitment to transparent and accountable use of NDIS funds, while ensuring participants are protected from overcharging. The APA categorically opposes unnecessary overcharging.

Additionally, it is crucial that fees align with the actual cost of delivering supports. The APA has consistently advocated for indexing NDIS pricing limits to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Throughout the Review process, the APA has made a number of recommendations, including: 

Pricing

The APA recommended that the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA):

•  Indexes Therapy supports pricing limits to CPI;
• Works with the APA to develop information and guidelines about best practice physiotherapy supports that help participants achieve their goals;
• Works with the APA and participants on developing outcome measurements for physiotherapy supports; and
• Works with the APA to look at meaningful indicators of quality physiotherapy supports.

The APA recommended that the NDIS Review:

• Conduct or commission an independent review of the actual costs of delivering physiotherapy supports in the NDIS;
• Conduct or commission a fee comparison like-for-like, taking into consideration the specificities of delivering supports in the NDIS compared with delivering supports in State Schemes or to deliver treatment to private patients. 

Quality and Safety 
The APA recommended that:

• Ahpra registration of physiotherapists and the quality and safety it already provides is recognised in the context of the provision of NDIS supports to avoid duplication of checks and processes;
• Regulation across the care sectors is aligned to avoid duplication; and 
• Regulation processes are accessible, affordable and geared towards improving quality and safety. 

Access and planning
The APA recommended that the NDIA:

• Ensure the eligibility and planning workforce is skilled, qualified in disability, function, and when possible has lived experience; and
• Trust the expertise of physiotherapists and accept their recommendations. 

Ecosystem of supports
The APA recommended that governments – local, state and federal:

• Ensure national coordination across all sectors to ensure accessibility and inclusion: housing (and building standards), education, health, social services, care, transport, etc.; and
• Ensure consistency of access and accessibility (to the highest standard) and availability of supports across states and within states. 

Access to publicly funded physiotherapy:
The APA recommends that:

• Physiotherapists are embedded in schools to provide therapy supports based on physical goals to improve inclusion, participation, and interaction with peers; and 
• Access to physiotherapy (including group sessions) is funded in primary care beyond the very limited MBS items that exist for chronic conditions. 
   

The APA is committed to contributing to better outcomes for people with disability thanks to physiotherapy. The NDIS Review panel has indicated that a lot of design and implementation work will need to be undertaken to finalise exactly how the recommendations will work in practice. We are looking forward to working with the government and the NDIA to build together the future NDIS.

To read the APA's full statement and written submissions to the NDIS Review, head here.