Whether you’re a registered or an unregistered provider, understanding ABN requirements, how the NDIS Price Arrangements and Price Limits work and what information to include in invoices is important in ensuring your business (as an individual or part of an organisation) runs smoothly.
ABN Requirements
An Australian Business Number (ABN) is required for both registered and unregistered NDIS service providers. Whether you work as an individual or as part of a larger company, an ABN is needed for payments and reimbursements to be made regarding the services provided.
Having an ABN is also important in providing key data for the NDIA to better understand where funding is being used and how the scheme can be more effective.
There are some cases where a service provider may be exempt from having an ABN. Some examples are:
Overseas suppliers (not carrying on a business in Australia)
Individual under 18 years who are assisting with disability related supports and payment does not exceed $350 per week
Suppliers providing disability-related products or services that do not exceed $75 (i.e., apps, books, daily living aids
Individuals providing a service to further their own hobby or recreational pursuit such as teaching musical instrument lessons, painting, or conducting repairs.
If a provider is exempt, they will need to complete a Statement by a Supplier form.
How to use the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits
The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (formally known as the Price Guide) lays out the latest rates for a variety of services and price limits to ensure participants are being charged fairly and with value for money. NDIS registered and unregistered providers must use the NDIS Price Arrangements and Price Limits when charging Agency and Plan Managed participants.
With 2500+ priced items in the Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, it’s important to take time to review it and ensure you are charging the right price. To do this, look for the service group/category that applies to you and then identify the service or support you provide. This will lead you to the appropriate hourly rate.
The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits is updated annually and release each June with revised prices that take effect in July. The updates or changes to the Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits reflect any changes in costs and market trends, which assists in ensuring that participants are funded enough to access the supports and services they need in line with the Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits.
To view the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, click here.
Service Agreements
A service agreement is a document that outlines the services you intend to deliver, what is expected of you as a provider, and what is expected of the NDIS participant engaging your services. While NDIS registered providers already use service agreements, unregistered providers are not mandated to. However, it is strongly recommended by the NDIA that they have a service agreement in place.
Things to consider when creating a service agreement are:
Outline the general nature of the services to be provided
Include a list of defined terms as an explanation any industry specific jargon you may use
Type of support you provide, the Support Category number and, a description of the support
The cost of each support line item
What the NDIS participant’s responsibilities and what your responsibilities are
Your NDIS number
The start and end date for this service agreement
Your ABN number and GST registration status
The best contact details for both parties
Describe how a change to this service agreement can occur (e.g., must be in writing, mutually agreed by both parties and be signed off and annexed to the current agreement)
Describe how the service agreement can be cancelled and what notice period may be required from either party)
Describe the conflict resolution processes
Advise to whom this service agreement can be shared with
As always, it’s important to ensure that NDIS participants who are engaging your services understand what they are agreeing to in the service agreement. Adjustments to the language or way of communicating the content of the service agreement so that it is fully understood may be needed and should be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Seven Invoicing Tips to Know
Ensure that the amount you are charging for the support or service you have provided accurately reflects the hourly rates within the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits . If the price you are charging exceeds the NDIS’ rates, it may only be partially funded.
Always ensure that the quantity is included on each line item and that it is correct. Quite often we see a quantity defaulted to “1” which can cause the invoice to be short funded.
Make sure each line item on your invoice has a service date, even if it only has one line item. This way, there is never any confusion over which rate to use and you are less likely to be short funded.
Ensure days falling on a weekend or public holiday where a different rate applies are entered as separate line items.
If you do not include an NDIS code, make your description of the service as accurate as possible.
Check that the weekday, weekend, and evening rates are clearly outlined to prevent any payment processing delays.
If you know which NDIS code your service aligns with, include this in your invoice. If you are unsure of which code to choose, you can contact our Support Team on 1300 322 273 or email support@first2care.com.au. Alternatively, you can see a full list of codes and descriptions of these line items in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits on the NDIS website.
Invoices must have specific details for the provider and the participant, as well as other important information contained in each invoice to adhere to the NDIS invoicing process.
For a full breakdown of what details should be included in each invoice, check out our blog For Providers: Invoicing Guide for Faster Payments.
Read more about the benefits of working with an independent, professional Plan Manager. Alternatively, contact our friendly team on 1300 322 273 or support@first2care.com.au.