Providers caught in big NDIS black hole

NOT-FOR-PROFIT care providers say they could be left with no choice but to leave disabled people “on the Minister’s doorstep” due to major gaps in NDIS payments for their care.

One Victorian provider has been left with a $200,000 shortfall as clients were left without proper coverage between plans.

“We feel that the NDIS is preying on our goodwill to save money,” the source said.

A second provider said the problem was nationwide.

In a letter seen by the Geelong Advertiser, the NDIS told the provider retrospective payments to reimburse them were “not not permissible permissible”. .

The provider, who asked to remain anonymous, said issues around gaps in some clients’ plans had been going on for months.

“Some clients need 24hour care, and some of them don’t have families. We’re it. If we run out of money, we’d have no choice but to leave them on the Minister’s doorstep,” the source said.

The source said client plans should be reviewed at least a month before their expiry date, but that wasn’t happening in every case.

The NDIS operates on a no-plan, no-funding basis.

“In particular, we have had trouble with complex clients where they have very high needs so it costs a lot of money,” the source said.

“They (NDIS) have said unless we have a letter from the planner in writing that they will backpay when the new plan comes through, it won’t be paid.”

A Geelong provider, who also wished to remain anonymous, said the problem was nationwide.

“At any one time I would say we are chasing up to $20,000 in payment gaps,” he said.

“It has to get better because service providers are not going to continue providing services on goodwill.”

Australia’s peak industry body for non-government disability service organisation, National Disability Services, has called on the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) — which is headquartered in Geelong — to provide greater clarity on minimising gaps between NDIS plans to ensure people with disability and providers are not left high and dry.

Acting chief David Moody said the NDS was aware of many instances where NDIS providers have been asked to carry the cost of providing services in these circumstances.

“We understand that a number of disability service providers, in good faith, are having to continue to maintain services without being paid for the provision of those services,” Mr Moody said.

“Data we collected from our members at the end of 2017 indicated that 13 per cent of those surveyed had considered going into voluntary administration the previous financial year.

“Almost 30 per said they made a loss in the last finan-cial year and more than 50 per cent said they were unable to provide the quality of services they would have liked to have provided for people with disabilities.

“We know that the NDIA is aware of these issues and we are keen to continue working with the agency to resolve them.”

An NDIA spokesperson said more than 90 per cent of all provider claims are processed successfully by the NDIA each week.