Covid-19 Measures & Initiatives To Support NDIS participants & Disability Providers
As the media release from Robert Stuart – Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme has announced initiatives for NDIS participants and disability providers to support during this pandemic.
These initiatives are focused on supporting providers to meet their responsibilities and continue to provide safe and quality services to the NDIS participants. In response to the initiatives to support this cause and as a disability provider, we at I-help Disability look forward to providing additional support to people.
Through these initiatives, eligible participants can use the existing NDIS plan funding for the next five months. Right from purchasing low-cost Assistive Technology to smart devices, and to receive continued access to disability supports, participants will get the best support from support providers. They will receive the supports through telehealth and telepractice thereby maintaining physical distancing regulations during this coronavirus pandemic. This development measure is important for ensuring NDIS participants remain connected to their services and disability supports.
Furthermore, there are new support items for Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers are also now available. This helps the corona affected participants, including higher intensity support and professional cleaning services. The end goal is to minimise the service disruption and to maintain the continued delivery of support services to the participants.
Finally, to confirm that all eligible Australians continue to access to the NDIS, there are downloadable Access Request and Supporting Evidence Forms available on the NDIS website.
These initiatives also include outbound calls to high-risk participants, special teams of planners to assist participants, flexible use of funding to access disability supports, cash flow assistance on selective services.
Nearly $600 million has been paid in advance to ensure the continuity of the services and enable immediate cash flow relief for participants. Moreover, payments for 5,000 providers have been allocated. This is to ensure that the flow of disability services should continue without any interruption.
Over $300 million of weekly provider payments were processed to continue the disability services and the majority of the participants are receiving the care and support that is much required during this period.