Published: 13 June 2025
Our Call To The NDIA
We call on the NDIA to:
- Reverse the decision to cap travel at 50% of the hourly rate;
- Price all allied health practitioners the same;
- Prioritise equity and complexity in future pricing reform.
People with ME/CFS are forced to advocate persistently for recognition of their disability and face ongoing barriers to care and support. Emerge Australia stands ready to support the NDIA in developing fairer, more inclusive pricing models.
Implications for people living with ME/CFS
The NDIS Annual Pricing Review 2024 – 25 has just been released, along with recommended changes for 2025 – 26. These changes will compound the inequities people living with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) already face. Those that rely on the NDIS, will be further disadvantaged.
What is Changing?
- Provider travel claims are being halved, capped at 50% of the hourly rate
- Some allied health prices (e.g. physiotherapist, podiatrist and dietitian) will decrease.
In-home Appointments
In-home appointments are essential for our community who are house or bed-bound due to post-exertional malaise (PEM), a core symptom triggered by minimal activity. Halving travel rates will mean that some therapists will be unable to do in-home appointments. Already, access to NDIS services is a post-code lottery, particularly for those living in rural and remote areas, where options are already limited.
Allied Health Price Reductions
We are also concerned by the $10/hour reduction to physiotherapy prices. Physiotherapists support people with ME/CFS by assessing mobility, prescribing assistive technology, and delivering energy-conserving care — all of which require specialised knowledge. This disparity could reduce physiotherapist participation in the NDIS, limiting participant choice and access to skilled support. Pricing for podiatry and dietetics is also being reduced. Undervaluing allied health professions compounds the systemic barriers our community already faces.
Other Implications
Less than three weeks’ notice about significant changes poses a risk to our community. The changes have the potential for some participants to lose access to essential supports. As our community experiences the fall-out from these changes, we are left wondering about the timeline for introduction of “foundational supports” which are yet to be designed.
