Fixing the NDIS

The National Disability Scheme (NDIS) is one of Australia’s most critical social services for those in need. In its current state, running the NDIS is growing exponentially in cost and that is set to double to $108 billion by 2034. On top of the cost, the scheme currently offers support to about 590,000 people with permanent and significant disabilities — but this is only 13% of the 4.48 million people living with a disability in Australia.

In October, an independent panel will share recommendations for the NDIS which is set to ‘reboot’ the scheme. But if the last 10 years of the NDIS’s existence is anything to go by, it may not be the kind of reboot we need.

Inefficiency one of the main issues

Both NDIS and the healthcare system it is built within are riddled with inefficiencies. Many health providers still use legacy systems, relying on pen and paper, which slows down simple things such as invoicing, reimbursements and even general reporting.

Meanwhile, the current shrinkage of the healthcare workforce means that NDIS participants stay on waitlists for months on end. This has a flow-on effect, such as their NDIS funding being cut due to underutilisation and families end up paying from their own pockets to support their needs. This is even more concerning as the government has pledged an 8% annual growth cap and is currently working on reforms that will result in a forecasted 27,000 fewer people joining the NDIS over the next four years.

Now more than ever, we need to find more effective and efficient ways to support our community.

The role technology can play

There are simple technology-powered tools and solutions that already exist and that could solve myriad problems when it comes to our disability scheme, and can support those living with disabilities.

For instance, mandatory digital check-ins could ensure that participants are only charged for the consultations they actually attended or only pay for the cleaning services that were really provided to them. It will also ensure that invoices are reimbursed quickly, in the 2–3 business days window the government is promising.

Digital wallets would also allow better transparency for participants when it comes to their plans, and give them an accurate picture of the remaining allocation for sub-budgets, allowing them and their careers to better manage their plan. They will also allow family members to have better oversight of their loved ones’ plans, potentially spotting fraud more easily.

More is better: how a co-contribution model can help

Recent modelling by Kismet revealed that optimising expenditure by only 5% would allow up to 273,000 additional people access to the NDIS by 2032, while means-tested co-payments would address ongoing cost management.

High-income households would no longer receive full NDIS subsidies, which would free up resources and enable a broader distribution of benefits for more people. The idea is to ensure that the financial resources of the NDIS are allocated in a manner that prioritises those who need them the most, while still providing some level of support to higher-income households.

While it’s been 10 years of the NDIS, we can’t let another 10 go by without change. We believe that better use of technology combined with the application of a co-contribution model will be a game changer for everyone touched by the NDIS, from participants to providers.

Image credit: iStock.com/Nils Versemann