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For many NDIS participants, nursing supports play an important role in helping them manage disability-related health needs and maintain their independence.
If you’ve ever wondered whether the NDIS can fund nursing supports, you’re not alone. Understanding what may be funded through the NDIS, and what is typically funded through the health system, can help you make informed decisions about your supports.
What nursing supports can the NDIS fund?
The NDIS may fund nursing supports when they are directly related to a participant’s disability and meet the NDIS funding criteria.
Depending on your individual circumstances, funded nursing supports may include:
- Continence assessments and ongoing continence support
- Catheter care
- Wound and pressure care
- Respiratory care and support
- Diabetes management related to your disability
- Nutrition support, including PEG feeding assistance
- Dysphagia (swallowing) support
- Seizure monitoring and management
- Training for support workers, carers or family members to safely deliver disability-related health supports
The NDIS may also fund disability-related consumables and assistive technology, such as continence products, wound dressings and other equipment, where they meet funding requirements.
Who can access nursing supports through the NDIS?
Like all NDIS supports, nursing services must meet the reasonable and necessary criteria.
Generally, this means the support must:
- Be related to your disability
- Help you pursue your goals and increase your independence
- Represent value for money
- Be likely to benefit you
- Not be more appropriately funded by another service system, such as the health system
To support a funding request, you may be asked to provide evidence from your treating health professionals. This helps demonstrate how the support relates to your disability and why it’s needed.
What doesn’t the NDIS fund?
One of the most common areas of confusion for participants is the difference between supports funded by the NDIS and those funded by Australia’s health system.
In general, the NDIS does not fund healthcare services that are the responsibility of hospitals, Medicare or state and territory health systems.
This may include:
- Hospital services
- Ambulance services
- Medications and pharmaceuticals
- Diagnostic testing and assessments
- Treatment of health conditions
- General healthcare services
- Palliative care
While these supports are important, they are typically funded outside the NDIS.
How do nursing supports get included in an NDIS plan?
If you think you may benefit from nursing supports, it’s a good idea to speak with your healthcare professional or NDIS contact.
They can help you gather the evidence needed to show how the support relates to your disability and how it will help you achieve your goals.
You can also discuss your support needs during your planning conversation or reassessment. If approved, funding will be included in the most appropriate support category within your NDIS plan.
Need help?
If you have questions about how these changes may affect your NDIS funding, invoices or reimbursements, our team is here to help. Contact us today.