Funding Options
There are a number of rebates and funding options available to families to assist with both therapy services and product purchases.
FUNDING OPTIONS FOR THERAPY SERVICES
Apply here for therapy services and we can provide more information as needed.
Private Health Insurance
Medicare
- Chronic Disease Management Plan (Previously called Enhanced Primary Care or EPC) - Children are referred by their GP for up to 5 speech, physio and/or OT sessions per calender year. Rebates of $52.95 per session.
- Medicare Mental Health Care Plan - Children are referred by their GP. This will cover up to 10 sessions per calender year with an approved Mental Health Care Provider. This rebate is for Occupational Therapy, Psychology and Social Work. Rebates of $92.50 per session.
- Helping Children with Autism (HCWA) - This Care Plan is approved by your paediatrician for children up to the age of 15 years. Rebates are available for up to 20 sessions in total for either Speech Therapy or Occupational Therapy. Rebates are $84.80 per session.
- Better Start for Children with Disabilities - This Care Plan is approved by your GP for children up to the age of 15 years. The children that fall into the category of diagnosis as Better Start FACSHIA funding are eligible for this Medicare programme as well. Up to 20 sessions in total for either Speech Therapy, Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy is included. Rebates are $84.80 per session.
FAHCSIA- Helping Children with Autism and Better Start Early Intervention Programmes
NDIS - National Disability Insurance Scheme and WA NDIS
PITS Funding (Post Intervention Support Funding)
ICWA - Insurance Commission of WA
FUNDING OPTIONS FOR THERAPY PRODUCTS
NDIS - National Disability Insurance Scheme
Skillbuilders are Registered Providers for equipment and resources in all states of Australia (awaiting Northern Territory). For children funded under the NDIS parents, carers and therapists can generate quotes directly from our website for particular items that they feel would benefit the child. This quote comes directly to your email and you can then take a copy to the NDIS planning meeting for inclusion in the child's plan.There are two categories in your child's NDIS Plan which can include equipment items:
CORE SUPPORTS/Consumables - Daily Adaptive Equipment
OR
CAPITAL SUPPORTS/Assistive Technology - Flexible Equipment Package (For Changing Needs) Annual Amount
Children with special needs are eligible for an annual budget for 'low risk, low cost' equipment (Level 1) as part of their NDIS funding plan. This needs to be included at the planning meeting stage. It is designed to allow parents to access the bits and pieces needed to help children meet their NDIS goals. All of the products listed on our website come under this category, with the exception of Weighted Blankets.
What is the process?
Step 1 - Check your child's plan has Assistive Technology or Consumables listed in the budget
Step 2 - Choose the management method that applies to your child's plan
Self Managed
You can purchase just as normal from our website and submit the invoice to NDIA to claim.
If you prefer to claim the funds first, you can:
* Generate a Purchase Order (quote) on our website (see below for the steps)
* Email to ask us to convert it to an invoice
* Submit this to NDIS and phone us once paid. You can pay us over the phone.
* We'll get your order ready to send in the meantime.
Plan Managed
In this case the Plan Manager pays the invoice.
* Generate a Purchase Order on our website (parents and/or therapists can do this) - just choose the Purchase Order payment option at the checkout and insert the participants name, NDIS number and Plan Manager's email address into the empty field that pops up.
* We then convert the order into an invoice and send it to your Plan Manager
* We can then send the items when payment has been completed.
NDIA Managed
When the plan is NDIA managed we submit the payment request to NDIS on the portal. You need to:
* Generate a Purchase Order (quote) on our website (again therapists and/or parents can do this) - just choose this option at the checkout as below
* We submit the request on the NDIS portal and send the items once approved (usually next day)
To generate a Purchase Order (Quote):
1. Select the items you'd like
2. Go to the Shopping Cart and complete your details as indicated
3. Choose the Purchase Orders payment option
4. Enter the participants name, Date of Birth and NDIS number in the Purchase Order number field
5. Hit 'Place Order'. An email will come to you in a few minutes.
FAHCSIA- Helping Children with Autism and Better Start Early Intervention Programmes
Better Start and HCWA funding can be used to purchase resources for eligible children. Expenditure of intervention funds is limited to a maximum of $4200 in total ($2100 per financial year) and resources must be selected to meet specific therapy goals, as agreed by the parents and therapist involved with the child. As Skillbuilders is a registered provider we can process claims for families provided we receive a copy of the child's FAHCSIA Letter of Approval and documentation from the child's therapist supporting the need for the items.