Plan-managed NDIS: what it changes for occupational therapy
How plan management works when you engage an OT, who pays, what the service agreement is for, and what stays the same.
Plan management puts a third party between the participant and the invoices. The plan manager holds the funding, pays providers and keeps the records, and the participant still chooses who to work with.
What it changes
- The plan manager pays. Invoices go to them, not to you.
- Provider choice stays broad. Plan-managed participants can use unregistered providers, same as self-managed.
- A service agreement is normal. Most plan managers want one before they release funds, so it is worth having early.
- Budget visibility is better. The plan manager can tell you what is left in Improved Daily Living before you book more sessions.
What it does not change
Nothing about the assessment. A functional capacity assessment is the same piece of work whoever settles the invoice. See also self-managed.
Common questions
Do I choose the therapist, or does the plan manager?
You do. The plan manager handles payment and record-keeping; the choice of provider stays with the participant.
Why does the plan manager want a service agreement?
It is how they confirm what has been agreed before releasing funds. Having one early avoids a delay between the assessment and the invoice.
Related
- Older adults How OT supports staying at home safely: falls risk, equipment, bathroom access, and the My Aged Care pathway.
- Neurodevelopmental conditions What an OT assessment covers for autistic adults and people with ADHD or related conditions: function, environment, and evidence.
- Neurological conditions How OT assessment works after stroke or brain injury and with progressive conditions: function, equipment and the home.