“The Price Gouging Of NDIS Participants”
“There’s nothing more powerful than the almightly dollar, when it comes to greed”-Melissa Ryan
Many NDIS participants are no strangers to being charged higher fees for services and equipment just because they're on the NDIS.
While a non NDIS Participant might pay $150 for a stainless steel shower chair, a NDIS will be charged $600 for the exact same shower chair. While a non NDIS Participant will be pay $100, for physiotherapy a NDIS Participant will pay $193.99 for physiotherapy.
As soon as suppliers of goods and service know that you’re a NDIS Participant, the price for a piece of equipment or the cost of a service magically goes up.
The Government of the Day-Labour, are currently having discussions with Australian Consumer’s regulator-the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) — to make this kind of practice illegal.
There needs to be a stronger regulatory framework around the costs of goods and services supplied to NDIS Participants. This framework should be forceful enough to send a message to businesses and suppliers, that if you engage in unethical practices or opportunistic behaviour, “you’re going to get caught”.
The Government aims to make such behaviour “Illegal”.
There is a current cap on what suppliers of goods and services can charge NDIS Participants, however some participants and their families are unable to speak up for themselves, or are not empowered to do so.
Concern has been expressed that some service providers are charging over inflated prices, so they can build verandas at the back of their beach houses, instead of the money going where it should be going-to people with disabilities, so they can achieve proper outcomes and have opportunities that are equally enjoyed by other members of our community.
Emerging Writer / Voluntary Advocate & Carer
9 个月So $14k plus for my daughter's wheelchair (manual) get that?
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9 个月It's in the bible when greed takes over pride It's been happening for years. The world's lost gone no respect morels dignity and of course greed
Experienced Disability Services Professional & Empowering NDIS Participants, Offering Services with NDIA Insight.
9 个月Hi Melissa this is a very important aspect that has been raised, collectively all stakeholders need to advocate for fair pricing, absence of which undermines the NDIS code of conduct. I’m sharing a link on this from the commission website for reference! https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/fair-pricing#:~:text=Fair%20pricing%20is%20when%20there,Conduct%20and%20could%20face%20penalties.
Motivational and educational speaker in the Health Care industry
9 个月Good morning Melissa. This situation of overcharging that you describe was created by the government and whoever is responsible for this whole issue of the NDIS, because they gave the service providers a menu of prices for the service that the providers provide to us. An intolerable situation has arisen where we are forced to pay even for phone calls and sending e-mail sums that are illogical for the service that takes no more than five to ten minutes.... As I have already claimed and will continue to claim, the NDIS did not create competition in the direct service provider market for us but caused a situation where everyone is trying to make money off our backs.....
Owner at Info-Empower
9 个月Link in first comment: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/price-gouging-ndis-participants-melissa-ryan-nvrnc/ If we haven't connected yet, please connect today!!