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Participants and providers currently have a narrow window of time to give the NDIA feedback on SIL pricing. The NDIA is asking providers to give submissions to their Review of Supported Independent Living (SIL) Price Controls Issues Paper but pay attention – submissions are due at the end of this week (Sunday 13 September).
The review is part of a broad program of work that is changing the way that SIL operates and is funded. The NDIA is not asking for feedback on how many hours should be funded or the quoting process. Rather, it is entirely focused on price limits - how much an hour of support should cost.
There are two main areas for submissions as follows:
Issues for participants
The NDIA wants to better understand how the changes made on 1 July 2020 to move from quaotable supports to price limits may impact the participant experience. Not to split hairs but it seems to me this would have been a better question to askbeforethe changes were made. But better late than never!
The two key questions are:
- What do you consider are the potential advantages or disadvantages for participants with regards to this new approach to Supported Independent Living?
- Are there particular factors you think the Agency should be aware of regarding how Supported Independent Living and related supports are defined, costed and charged to participants?
Issues for providers
There are a total of 40 (yes, 40!) questions to respond to within the issues for providers section. These are mostly centered around the Disability Support Worker Cost Model and the following components:
- Wages and On-Costs
- Workforce Mix
- Utilisation
- Supervision Costs
- Overheads
- Supply Costs Specific to SIL
- Other Costs
More details on the Disability Support Worker Cost Model (that underpins SIL prices if you weren’t aware) can be found here.
We strongly encourage everyone involved in SIL to have a say and make a submission. At an already busy time for many of us, the timeframe is definitely tight. But if we want an NDIS that truly reflects and supports the realities of people’s lives, we have to make the most of opportunities like these to steer it in the right direction.
Feedback should be submitted via email to [email protected] by 11.59 pm AWST on 13 September.
