NDIS releases updated Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits annually, with interim updates during the year. Missing these creates billing problems for participants, providers, and plan managers. This article walks through what to watch for in pricing changes and how to handle the transitions.

Why pricing updates matter

NDIS Pricing Arrangements set the maximum prices providers can charge for each support category. The rates also feed into plan budgets — when NDIA sets your plan funding, they're using current pricing to calculate how many hours of each support type you can fund.

When prices change, several things happen:

Provider invoicing changes — they update their rate cards.

Existing service agreements may need updating.

Plan budgets remain at their original dollar amount, so price increases mean fewer hours of service available.

Plan managers update their systems.

Participants need to understand whether their plan still covers what they need.

Annual updates happen 1 July most years. Interim updates can happen during the year, usually for specific categories.

Key changes to watch for in 2025-26

The 2025-26 pricing arrangements maintained moderate increases across most categories. Some specific changes worth noting:

Personal care and other Core Supports rates moved up modestly (2-3% range across most categories), reflecting wage growth in the SCHADS Award.

Support Coordination rates updated. Standard support coordination is currently $100.14/hour in Queensland; specialised support coordination is $190.54/hour.

Recovery Coaching is currently $98.96/hour, having been distinct from support coordination since 2020.

Plan management has tiered rates — establishment fees plus monthly fees, with caps per plan period.

Travel charges — both for participants travelling and for provider-to-participant travel — have specific calculation rules updated periodically.

Cancellation rules were reviewed in recent updates. Providers can charge for short-notice cancellations within specific limits.

For accurate current rates, check the NDIS Pricing Arrangements document on ndis.gov.au. Don't rely on memory or older publications.

How price changes affect plan budgets

This catches participants and coordinators out. Plan budgets are set in dollar amounts. When prices increase mid-plan, the number of service hours each dollar buys decreases.

Practical implication: a participant whose plan funds $30,000 of personal care may have started the plan with 9 hours per week of weekday support, but a price increase mid-plan might mean only 8.5 hours per week is sustainable for the rest of the period.

This isn't always obvious to participants. They see their plan total, see services running, and don't realise budget burn is faster than expected. Coordinators and plan managers need to flag this.

If price changes mean a plan can't sustain the originally agreed services, options include:

Reducing service hours within the existing budget.

Requesting an unscheduled review for additional funding.

Rebalancing the plan within Core Supports flexibility.

Identifying whether unused funding in other categories can be redirected.

What plan managers and coordinators need to update

Practical work to do when pricing updates roll out:

Update billing systems with new rates. Make sure invoices being processed apply current rates correctly.

Communicate with providers. Confirm provider rate cards align with current pricing.

Review existing service agreements. Service agreements signed at old rates may need updating.

Talk to participants. Explain how the changes affect their plans, particularly if there's a meaningful impact on hours available.

Update budget projections. Re-run budget calculations using new rates.

Document the transition. Keep a record of what rates applied when, particularly for any disputes.

For coordinators specifically:

Review participants' plan budgets. Identify whose plans are most affected by changes.

Reassess service plans. Are existing service patterns still sustainable within updated pricing?

Discuss with providers. Get clarity on how providers are managing their rate transitions.

Flag issues at plan reviews. If pricing changes have meaningfully reduced available hours, document this for the next plan review.

Frequently asked questions

Will my NDIS plan budget go up automatically when prices increase?

No. Plan budgets are set in dollar amounts. They don't increase automatically with price changes. The total funding stays the same; the hours available may reduce.

Can my provider charge above the new price limit?

In agency-managed and plan-managed plans, no. Providers can't charge above the published price limits. Self-managed plans have more flexibility but standard practice respects the limits.

My provider hasn't updated their rates — do they have to?

Providers can charge less than the price limit but not more. If they're charging less, that's a benefit to your plan budget.

What happens if my plan was set at old rates and now the rates have increased?

Your plan dollar amount remains. Effective hours of service reduce slightly. If the impact is significant, request an unscheduled review.

How often should I check pricing updates?

Quarterly at minimum. Major annual updates around 1 July are essential.

If you're a plan manager or coordinator working in Queensland and want to discuss pricing transitions, Seareal can talk through specific scenarios with you.