Many providers will be aware that some therapy support item codes have been present within Assistance with Daily Life in the flexible Core budget for several years. These are classed as Disability-Related Health Supports and exist to respond to the disability-related health needs of a participant where that care is not the usual responsibility of the health system.
These items are:
01_760_0128_3_3 - Assessment Recommendation Therapy or Training Supports – Dietitian
01_661_0128_1_3 - Assessment Recommendation Therapy or Training Supports - Occupational Therapist
01_721_0128_1_3 - Assessment Recommendation Therapy or Training Supports – Physiotherapist
01_663_0128_1_3 - Assessment Recommendation Therapy or Training Supports – Podiatrist
01_701_0128_1_3 - Assessment Recommendation Therapy or Training Supports – Psychologist
01_665_0128_1_3 - Assessment Recommendation Therapy or Training Supports - Speech Pathologist
01_741_0128_1_3 - Assessment Recommendation Therapy or Training Supports - Other Professional
The NDIA have published a list of Disability-Related Health Supports that these support items may be used in relation to:
Dysphagia | Respiratory |
Nutrition | Diabetes |
Continence | Wound & Pressure Care |
Podiatry | Epilepsy |
In addition, the list of qualified professionals who may deliver these supports is limited compared to the standard therapies supports in the Improved Daily Living Budget. Only the following types of therapists and therapy assistants can claim from the core support items:
Dietitian | Occupational Therapist |
Physiotherapist | Podiatrist |
Psychologist | Speech Pathologist |
Other Professional (must be delivering Disability-Related Health Supports in line with the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Commission’s requirements for the Therapeutic Supports Registration Group) |
In short, service providers should only use these support items if you are delivering one of the listed Disability-Related Health Supports AND you are one of the listed qualified practitioners.
For fast, compliant NDIS claiming it is important to ensure that the item code being billed matches the service provided. Using a core line item for therapy, whether on an invoice or in a service agreement is something that should only be done after careful consideration of the qualifications of the therapist, the type of service being delivered, and the arrangements in place with the participant.
Full details can be found in the NDIA’s Operational Guideline on Disability-Related Health Supports: Disability-related health supports | NDIS