What Are the Costs for Teletherapy?

Published at 24-03-2025 14:14:22

Tags: #ForParticipants

Teletherapy, also known as telehealth, refers to the delivery of therapeutic supports over the phone or via video rather than face-to-face. This method can be used when appropriate and agreed upon by both the provider and the participant.

Key Conditions for Charging Teletherapy Services

Providers are allowed to claim telehealth services under the NDIS, but several conditions must be met:

1. Appropriateness: The delivery of therapy through telehealth must be suitable for the participant’s needs.
2. Price Compliance: The proposed charges must comply with the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, and align with the Service Agreement with the participant.
3. Therapeutic Focus: Teletherapy should only cover activities related to the actual delivery of therapy. It does not include activities like enrolment, administration, or staff rostering.
4. Value Explanation: Providers must explain why teletherapy is the best use of the participant’s NDIS funding, detailing the benefits of this method.
5. Participant Agreement: The participant must agree to telehealth in advance, and the Service Agreement must specify that teletherapy services can be claimed.

Duty of Care in Teletherapy

Providers must ensure that the quality of care provided through telehealth is equivalent to in-person services, meeting the same clinical standards.

Teletherapy Costs

Teletherapy is charged at the same rate as face-to-face therapy. Providers should use the same line item from the NDIS Price Guide when making claims for teletherapy. On the NDIS portal, the "Telehealth Services" option is selected when submitting a claim.

Pricing for Remote and Very Remote Areas

While teletherapy costs are generally based on the location of the provider, there are some specific considerations for participants in remote or very remote areas:

• The rate charged will typically depend on where the provider is located, not the participant. For example, if the provider is based in metro Sydney, the metro Sydney rate applies, even if the participant is in a remote area of Western Australia.
• However, participants in remote or very remote areas have the option to agree to pay remote or very remote rates, as long as they feel the service offers value for money.