The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has published a comprehensive three-year pricing workplan designed to guide pricing reforms for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) from 2025 to 2028. The initiative aims to deliver more predictable, evidence-based pricing arrangements that support participant outcomes, maintain provider sustainability, and respond to evolving market pressures.
The new workplan provides a sequenced, staged framework for how pricing changes will be developed, tested and implemented over three successive years. It reflects a shift toward a longer-term, data-driven approach to pricing — moving beyond the traditional annual pricing review cycle and offering clearer transparency about the timing and focus areas for future reforms.
Year 1: Building Foundations (2025-26)
The first year of the workplan focuses on laying the groundwork for future pricing evolution. Key priorities include building the evidence base and strengthening understanding of current market conditions. Actions in this phase involve:
- Conducting the Annual Pricing Review, which remains central to pricing stewardship.
- Implementing quality support pilots to gather insights on effective, outcomes-focused delivery.
- Conducting targeted market analysis, including reviews of rural and remote service pricing under the Modified Monash Model.
- Enhancing real-time market monitoring and early-stage stewardship efforts to inform future pricing decisions.
This first year is intended to ensure that decision-makers have robust data and early insights before designing larger pricing changes.
Year 2: Evidence-Informed Design and Testing (2026-27)
The second year emphasizes the design and testing of new pricing approaches, informed by the evidence gathered in Year 1. Actions planned for this phase include:
- Continuing the Annual Pricing Review and beginning broader implementation of pricing adjustments.
- Applying pilot evidence to refine pricing design for specific service types.
- Undertaking focused reviews for therapy supports and Supported Independent Living (SIL) services, two areas repeatedly highlighted as priorities by providers and participants.
- Developing pricing specifications for intermediary supports such as support coordination and plan management.
This phase seeks to balance innovation with practical, data-backed solutions that reflect real world service delivery and cost structures.
Year 3: Implementation and Consolidation (2027-28)
The third year aims to consolidate the reforms developed in prior phases, embedding new pricing arrangements and monitoring early outcomes. Key actions include:
- Integrating major pricing changes into ongoing stewardship systems.
- Finalising and refining pricing structures for SIL, therapy supports and other core support categories.
- Conducting evaluations to assess early impacts and prepare recommendations for future pricing cycles beyond the three-year plan.
By structuring these activities over three years, the NDIA intends to allow sufficient time for consultation, testing, adaptation and review — while creating more certainty for stakeholders about when changes may occur.
Collaboration and Consultation
The workplan was developed in close consultation with key stakeholders, including state and territory governments, disability and carer representative organisations, provider peak bodies, and advisory groups. These consultations helped shape the sequencing of reforms and ensured that pricing decisions will be informed not just by data, but by lived experience and sector expertise.
The NDIA says it remains committed to ongoing engagement as pricing reforms progress. Structured feedback opportunities will allow participants, providers and other stakeholders to contribute to the design and implementation of pricing changes over the three years.
