Funding Options
NDIS
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a funding scheme that has been allocated by the federal government for children and adults with a lifelong disability. NDIS Early Intervention funding also exists for children under 6 years who meet the eligibility criteria. Your child must be assessed against the access requirements in order to see if they are eligible for NDIS ECEI funding. Below is a list of eligibility requirements that must be met:
1. Age Requirements
2. Location Requirements
3. Residency Requirements
4. Disability Requirements
Early Intervention Requirements
Your child may meet the early intervention requirements if:
o The impairment or condition is likely to be permanent and there is evidence that getting supports now will help.
o Those supports are most appropriately funded through the NDIS and not through another service system.
o The child is aged under 6 years with a developmental delay which results in substantially reduced functional capacity in one or more of the areas of self-care, receptive and expressive language, cognitive development or motor development.
The government recognises the importance of early intervention and support for people when there is good evidence that this will improve an area of functioning or delay or lessen the decline in functioning.
NDIS funding cannot be used for:
– Subsidising the gap in a Medicare funded service.
– Paying for cancelled or missed appointments.
Baptcare is the NDIS Partner in the Community for Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) Services in the Hobart area. Check their website https://www.baptcare.org.au/services or call 13 22 78 for more information.
Mission Australia is the NDIS Partner in the Community for Early Childhood Intervention (ECEI) Services in South East Tasmania including Hobart’s eastern shore.
For more information regarding the National Disability Insurance Scheme or to see if your child meets the requirements please access the website www.ndis.gov.au or call 1800 800 110.
Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDM)
The Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDM) are provided by your GP. CDMs provide Medicare rebates for speech pathology and other allied health services, for people who have a chronic medical condition. Your child may be eligible to receive the Medicare rebate for speech pathology services if he/she has a chronic condition that is being managed by your GP under a Chronic Disease Management Plan. A chronic medical condition is defined as one that has been or will be present for 6 months or longer.
The CDM provides up to a maximum of 5 rebates per calendar year for all Allied Health services. This means that if you are accessing more than one Allied Health service, you are entitled to 5 rebates across all of the services combined, not 5 rebates per health service. For more information please discuss with your GP.
How do I get a CDM for my child?
Your GP will decide if your child is eligible for a CDM and will refer you where appropriate. For further information, please contact your GP.
I have been referred to you on an CDM plan, how does it work?
You will need to provide us with the referral form from your GP. You will then be eligible to claim up to a maximum of 5 rebated sessions per calendar year, provided that your GP has registered your plan through Medicare.
Services provided by Loud Mouth Speech Pathology will need to be paid in full. You will then be provided with instructions to claim your Medicare rebate through the Medicare website.
The Medicare rebate is currently $56 per service.
Private Health Funds
Private speech pathology is covered under many health fund plans. We encourage you to check that your specific level of cover entitles you to a rebate before you make an appointment.
The following item numbers will help your fund identify if you are covered;
· 320 is the item number for a Speech Pathology Assessment.
· 340 is the item number for a Speech Pathology therapy consultation.
I’ve contacted my health fund and they’ve said you aren’t registered?
Loud Mouth Speech Pathology is registered with health funds for health fund rebates, and we make every effort to register with all health funds. From time to time, a new health fund may start, or existing requirements may change and we may not have been notified by the fund. If you find that we are not registered with your private health fund, please contact us so we can amend this for you. We will do our best to make sure that we are registered so you can receive the health fund rebate that you are entitled to.
Do you process claims through the HICAPS system?
No. You will be required to pay for the session in full before putting your claim through with your private health fund. Many funds have an online claiming process, please check with your provider.