The NDIA has released its 2025-26 Annual Pricing Review (APR), and if you’re an NDIS provider, it’s time to sit up and take notice. This year’s review isn’t just another routine adjustment. It marks the start of a more refined, data-informed and sustainability-focused approach to how services are priced across the Scheme.
While some of the changes might seem subtle on the surface, they reflect a bigger shift in how the NDIA sees the future of service delivery and provider accountability. Whether you’re a sole trader, a growing provider or a large organisation, these reforms will likely impact how you deliver and claim services.
Let’s break down the most important updates and what they actually mean in practice.
The removal of state-based pricing differences for physiotherapy and psychology is part of a broader push toward simplification and national equity. Previously, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory benefited from higher rates due to assumptions of higher service delivery costs. New data showed this was no longer justified.
With a national rate now applying across all states and territories, providers should take this opportunity to reassess their costing strategies and staffing levels, particularly in areas that previously relied on the higher cap.
The labour portion of travel claims for therapy can now only be billed at up to 50 percent of the 10-minute price rate. This is a shift toward cost efficiency and service value.
The NDIA noted that in many cases, travel costs were becoming disproportionately high relative to service value. Providers who service regional, rural or mobile clients need to carefully assess the impact of this change. Strategic scheduling, clustering of appointments and the use of hybrid service models (e.g. telehealth where appropriate) may now become more critical to maintaining service delivery margins.
Disability Support Worker services make up a large proportion of NDIS spending. These include supports such as daily living assistance, community participation and high intensity personal care. From 1 July 2025, the NDIA will update price limits using the latest SCHADS Award adjustments and indexation.
This changes:
From July 2025, the NDIA will remove the $232.35 one-off establishment fee for plan management. The rationale is that most participants now transition between plans with minimal setup requirements, and plan managers generally operate at scale.
While the monthly fee of $104.45 remains, providers must:
No changes will be made to pricing for Support Coordination (Level 2) or Specialist Support Coordination (Level 3) in 2025-26. However, a major pilot is underway to explore outcomes-based pricing, service quality and the potential Navigator model.
Providers should:
The NDIA is phasing out remote and very remote loadings for plan management. This is due to the increasing virtual nature of administrative services.
However, direct supports like support work and therapy retain their regional loadings:
The APR makes it clear that future pricing models will no longer be one-size-fits-all. The NDIA is moving towards differentiated pricing based on:
The 2025-26 pricing review introduces targeted adjustments designed to balance sustainability, service quality and value for money. From therapy to support coordination, from DSW services to nursing and plan management, nearly every provider category is touched in some way.
These changes are part of a wider effort to modernise the pricing model, improve accountability and align NDIS supports with fair market rates. Providers will need to adapt, but these shifts also present opportunities to innovate, improve efficiency and deliver more participant-focused care.
At Provider Compliance, we’re here to help you break down the technical updates and translate them into action. Whether it’s training, pricing audits, workforce planning, or compliance reviews, we’ve got your back.
Reach out if you need help navigating the new pricing landscape. With the right support and insight, you’ll be well-positioned to thrive in this new chapter of the NDIS.
