A Beginners Guide to NDIS Physiotherapy: What You Need to Know
Physiotherapy is one of several support options available to individuals with funding through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Many NDIS participants with a variety of disabilities can benefit from physiotherapy services.
The common perception that a physiotherapist only focuses on massage, pain management, and athletic injuries is mistaken. Physiotherapists provide a wide range of services beyond those commonly associated with them.
What is physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession that focuses on assessing, diagnosing, treating, and preventing physical impairments, disabilities, and pain. All physiotherapists in Australia are nationally registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Physiotherapists use a range of techniques and interventions, including exercise, rehabilitation, manual therapy, and assistive technology, to help improve movement and function, reduce pain, and enhance the quality of life for their participants. Some physiotherapists may also specialise in dry needling, Pilates, exercise classes, and injury treatment and prevention.
Does NDIS funding cover physiotherapy?
Yes, physiotherapy services are covered by the NDIS. Physiotherapy through the NDIS is funded under the Improved Daily Living Category. This category aims to provide assessment, training, and support to give people with a disability the skills to increase their independence. For further specific information on how the NDIS physiotherapy services in your plan are funded, it’s best to refer to the NDIS, your LAC or your support coordinator.
What is 'mobile' physiotherapy?
Mobile physiotherapy refers to physiotherapy that is provided in a location of your choice, such as your home, workplace, nursing home, park, local gym or pool. Realisation Healthcare's mobile NDIS physiotherapists will come to you to provide the service at the location of your choice. We are well equipped with all the necessary equipment that we will bring along to our visits.
What disabilities can physiotherapy help with for an NDIS participant?
Physiotherapy can provide treatment, support, and guidance for participants with a variety of disabilities and chronic conditions, including:
Physical Disabilities
Developmental Delay
Stroke
Spinal Cord Injuries
Alzheimer’s Disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Cerebral Palsy
Amputees
What support and therapies can a physiotherapist provide?
Physiotherapists can provide a range of services and treatments to help people with disability to improve their function, engage with their community, improve their well-being and become more independent.
Some of the treatments a physiotherapist may be able to provide are:
Gross motor, fine motor and general coordination training
Improving walking quality and movement impairments
Strengthening and cardiovascular exercises
Home exercise programs
Balance training and fall prevention.
Advice on the management of specific conditions
Pain management
Manual therapy
Hydrotherapy
Providing recommendations for equipment and mobility aids
Breathing exercises and respiratory rehabilitation
They may also be able to provide further advice, education, and support with the following:
Education, strategies, and rehabilitation to help with activities of daily living, such as getting out of bed, showering, bathing, dressing, and eating
Moving around the home and within the community
Doing daily jobs, increase fitness, activities, and sports
Weight control
Selection and training of the use of mobility aids such as walking frames and wheelchairs
What does an NDIS physiotherapy session consist of?
Realisation Healthcare's NDIS physiotherapists provide a personalized and goal-oriented service, working with you as a team to deliver the best care possible. At your first session, the physiotherapist will introduce themselves, listen to your concerns, review your NDIS goals and medical history and any relevant reports or plans.
The physiotherapist may also assess your movement by conducting a hands-on examination of your joints, muscles, and other related areas. This allows them to identify any factors that may be contributing to your concerns.
After a thorough assessment, the physiotherapist will discuss the outcomes with you and develop a treatment plan tailored to help you achieve your goals from physiotherapy.
How often can a participant receive NDIS Physiotherapy treatments?
The frequency of physiotherapy treatments through NDIS funding depends on your individual needs and your NDIS plan. Your NDIS plan should outline the budget for Physiotherapy services and any additional services you may be eligible for. Your NDIS plan manager, LAC and support coordinator will also be able to provide more information about your specific plan.
What are the NDIS Physiotherapy fees?
The costs of Physiotherapy through NDIS funding depend on what physiotherapy services you require, which state you live in, how remote your location is and which service provider you choose. All fees for all NDIS services, including physiotherapy, are set out in the document NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2022-2023. The NDIS typically updates their pricing every 12 months at the end of each financial year, i.e. July 1st. Realisation Healthcare is a registered NDIS provider and thus charges under the NDIS price guidelines. All prices are GST-inclusive and include the cost of providing supports. In NSW, where Realisation Healthcare is based, the prices per hour are $193.99 per hour. Please refer to the NDIS physiotherapy price guide and the NDIS Physiotherapy fee schedule for further information.
NDIS Price Guide Physiotherapy Rates (as of July 2022)
Can the Physiotherapy provider charge travel costs?
Yes, travel costs are determined via the NDIS guidelines and are charged in 5-minute increments at the therapist’s hourly rate. This is capped at a maximum of 30 minutes of travel. In addition to this, providers may also be able to claim time spent from their last participant to their usual place of work which is also capped at 30 minutes. Depending on circumstances, providers may negotiate with you and charge "Provider Travel - Non-Labour" to cover costs such as road tolls, parking fees and the running cost of running the vehicle. Please refer to the NDIS price guide for further information.
When doesn't the NDIS cover physiotherapy?
The NDIS may cover physiotherapy costs if the need is directly related to a disability, is reasonable and necessary, and will assist you in meeting your goals. If the need for physiotherapy is not directly related to the disability, it most likely won't be covered by NDIS funding and may be funded through the public health system. For example, if you went to the hospital for surgery that isn't linked to your disability and need physiotherapy afterwards, this may not be covered.
What does reasonable and necessary as defined by the NDIS?
The NDIS funds a range of supports and services which may include education, employment, social participation, independence, living arrangements and health and wellbeing.
Section 34 of the NDIA Act (2013) requires that for supports to be funded, they must meet 6 criteria.
Supports must:
Assist the participant to pursue their goals and aspirations as contained in their Plan statement.
Assist the participant to undertake activities that facilitate their social and economic participation.
Represent value for money.
Be, or is likely to be, effective and beneficial for the participant taking into account best practices.
Take into consideration reasonable expectations of the care that families, carers, informal networks and the community will provide.
Be most appropriately funded through the NDIS and not an alternate system or scheme.
Reasonable and Necessary - NDIS
What is an NDIS Registered provider and how does it impact physiotherapy services?
The Australian government has strict safety and quality guidelines for registered NDIS physiotherapy providers. They’re able to give patients NDIA physiotherapy services with NDIS funding. Realisation Healthcare is a Registered NDIS provider for NDIS therapeutic supports and able to provide services all participants whether they are self-managed, plan-managed or NDIA managed.
Do I Need a Service Agreement?
The NDIA recommends having a written service agreement to ensure a clear understanding between participants and providers on what services are delivered, the expectations and the costs.
The Realisation Healthcare team will work with you to create a service agreement before the initial assessment. The service agreement will outline the number of treatments and the total costs. Both you and a Realisation Healthcare representative will sign the agreement, and a copy will be provided to your plan manager, if applicable.
What are NDIS goals, and how do they fit in?
NDIS goals are a list of the things that you want to achieve with the support of the NDIS and are detailed in your NDIS plan. They are typically split into short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals. The NDIS goals are formed in conjunction with your Local area coordinator and finalised in your planning meeting.
Example of NDIS goals
How do Realisation Healthcare’s Physiotherapists work with your NDIS goals?
Realisation Healthcare uses a combination of the Realisation Healthcare Approach and personalised physiotherapy goals and relates them to your NDIS goals. This ensures that the sessions and therapies provided to the participant are meaningful and that they feel connected and motivated to work towards their NDIS goals.
What is the Realisation Healthcare Approach?
The Realisation Healthcare Approach is a unique approach to both the Physiotherapy and NDIS services we provide participants. The Realisation Healthcare approach starts by asking the simple question, “What is important to you?” This helps direct the conversation and the therapy sessions. By asking what is important to you, we can work together to create meaningful goals to achieve together. We collaborate with all important people supporting you in your life, whether that be your family, support workers or support coordinators ensure you reach your NDIS goals.
What is a Physiotherapy NDIS Report?
An NDIS physiotherapy report is a comprehensive report that aligns with your NDIS plan goals and outlines an evidence-based approach to a therapy program aimed at helping you achieve your NDIS goals in a strategic and progressive manner. The physiotherapy reports are crucial for maximising the outcomes of your NDIS review meeting, which determines the therapy options covered by NDIS for the rest of the year.
What makes Realisation Healthcare's NDIS physiotherapy services different?
Realisation Healthcare is an NDIS registered Physiotherapy provider and allied health service. Realisation Healthcare’s NDIS physiotherapists specialise in providing physiotherapy to people with a variety of intellectual disabilities, neurological disabilities and mental health conditions. At Realisation Healthcare, we get to know you as an individual and how your disability impacts your quality of life, function and well-being. We use the Realisation Healthcare approach to understand everything about you, what is important to you, and your goals and aspirations. We then combine this information with our tailored and individualised physiotherapy services to enable you to live life to the fullest. Our goal is to allow you to realise your true potential.
We respond to all queries and questions within 24 hours, and bookings can be made within a week. Contact us today through phone, email or for a casual chat over messenger to see how we can help you. You can also fill out the referral form by clicking on the button below.
Additional NDIS information:
What other NDIS services does Realisation Healthcare offer?
Realisation Healthcare also offers a range of Allied Health services, including Occupational Therapy, Dietetics and Exercise Physiology.
What are NDIS therapeutic supports?
Therapeutic supports are different types of therapy provided by various health professionals to cater to all your needs, including physical, social, and mental health. These services aim to improve functional skills and independence. Realisation Healthcare’s NDIS Therapy supports provide NDIS participants with allied health therapies from our expert team of clinicians specialising in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, exercise physiology, speech pathology and dietetics.
Is physiotherapy covered by NDIS?
Yes, funding for physiotherapy can come from two budget areas in an NDIS plan:
Capacity building – Improved Daily Living
Core support - Assistance with Daily Life
Excerpt from NDIS Price Guide 2022-23 (Page 53)
Who is eligible for the NDIS?
The eligibility for this benefit is determined by your age, residency status, and the severity and impact of your impairment.
To participate in the NDIS, your eligibility must be assessed by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). You must meet the following requirements:
Be under 65 years of age
Be a resident of Australia
Are unable to do the things you do on a daily basis because of permanent impairment or condition (lifelong)
What does the NDIS not fund?
NDIS does not fund supports if:
It is likely to cause harm
It is not related to your disability
Duplicates other supports delivered by the NDIS
It is considered a day-to-day living cost
Providing the support would be against the law
It consists of income replacement
It is the responsibility of other service systems to provide
Does NDIS cover massage therapy?
Massage is not directly funded by NDIS. However, it may be integrated with the physiotherapy treatment program if indicated. Physiotherapy massage may be indicated for participants who are experiencing pain, contractures, tightness, swelling or poor lymphatic drainage.
Excerpt from page 92 of NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2022-23
Is chronic pain covered by NDIS?
To qualify for NDIS support and funding, you must be living with a permanent and significant disability that has been diagnosed by a medical expert. Conditions such as fibromyalgia and chronic back pain alone don’t make a person eligible for NDIS funding. However, conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic back pain may coexist with a wide range of other significant mental and physically disabling conditions