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<\/p>\nA National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) service provider was allowed to pocket more than $1 million by incorrectly billing for personal training services, while at least 4,000 other providers also incorrectly charged Australians with disability, the federal government says.<\/p>\n
The provider that incorrectly billed for more than $1 million charged disabled Australians $193.99 an hour, nearly three times the government’s recommended price.<\/p>\n
The rort centres on a category of service called “other professionals”, which was intended for services provided by a qualified therapist to deliver evidence-based supports.<\/p>\n
However, unscrupulous providers submitted a range of other claims under that item, including payments for decluttering, personal training, golf lessons, float tanks and horse therapy.<\/p>\n
NDIS minister Jenny McAllister said the government wanted every dollar spent on the NDIS to go to quality supports that genuinely improved the lives of NDIS participants.<\/p>\n
“Every dollar that goes somewhere else is a dollar wasted,” she said.<\/p>\n
Jenny McAllister says every dollar spent on the NDIS should go to quality supports. (AAP: Lukas Coch)<\/p>\n
In 2024, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) explicitly banned billing for items such as general fitness, recreational activities or animal therapy.<\/p>\n
But 40 per cent of a sample of 10,000 providers that billed under the “other professional” item had been paid for services not allowed by NDIS rules, according to analysis conducted by the NDIA.<\/p>\n
Ms Mcallister said the agency had raised debts against some providers and referred others to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).<\/p>\n
In a briefing document, the government noted three measures already in place to address incorrect billing.<\/p>\n
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The provider was billing disabled Australians $193.99 an hour, nearly three times the government’s recommended price. (ABC Kimberley: Dunja Karagic\u00a0)<\/p>\n
In July, categories for services were split up to be smaller and more specific, giving the agency easier oversight over what was being claimed.<\/p>\n
It also reduced the price cap for the “other professional” category from $194 to $156 as part of the annual pricing review, which the government says will reduce the incentive for rorters to exploit the category.<\/p>\n
The government also pointed to a $350m investment made in this year’s budget to implement a new digital payment system to improve integrity, and proposed amendments to the NDIS Act creating new investigative and enforcement powers.<\/p>\n
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