National Disability Insurance Scheme
Congratulations on taking the first few steps in your NDIS journey! Like with everything new, understanding the NDIS can seem a little overwhelming at first, however, we hope that with the following information you can feel better equipped with the knowledge you require to transfer your prosthetic service funding to the NDIS.
If you are a person with an amputation or limb loss, and you meet the NDIS’ access requirements, you can become a ‘Participant’ in the scheme.
ProMotion Prosthetics is a ‘Registered NDIS Provider’ and currently treats NDIS Participants for both upper and lower limb amputations or limb loss. If you’ve previously been treated under the Victorian (or other State’s) artificial limb program at a Public Department and are interested in transferring to the NDIS, then read on.
The NDIS is now fully rolled out in Victoria, including Metro Melbourne. So, if you are thinking about registering with the NDIS, or perhaps you already have and want to know what to do next, here are some resources for you to read, ahead of accessing your plan, funds and prosthetic treatment under the NDIS.
The main steps you will need to take are:
1. Register with NDIS
If you visit the am I eligible page, you will find an NDIS checklist to see if you are eligible.
If you meet the criteria and you would like to become a participant, call the NDIA on 1800 800 110 or go in person to your Local NDIA office and ask to make an access request.
You will be required to provide evidence of your disability verified by a medical practitioner, for example your GP.
If you make your Access Request over the phone, you can email or post copies of your existing information, including letters or reports to one of the following:
- email: NAT@ndis.gov.au
- Post to: GPO Box 700, Canberra ACT 2601, or
- drop it into your nearest NDIS office
For more information as a Participant under the NDIS you can visit the NDIS website.
2.Have your Planning Meeting (with a planner at the NDIS)
Preparing for your planning meeting
The NDIS website has some important information to read in preparation for your planning meeting.
Limbs 4 Life has also produced the Amputee Guide to the NDIS, which is extremely useful in preparing for your Planning Meeting. Limbs 4 Life also has a checklist you can print off in preparation for your Planning Meeting.
You must also bring along any relevant reports or assessments to your Planning Meeting. It helps the NDIS planner to understand the types of supports you need.
It would be preferable to meet with you prior to you having your NDIS Planning Meeting so we can discuss your prosthetic needs. To make a ‘pre-Planning Meeting’ appointment, please contact the office on 03 9532 5098.
Attending a Planning Meeting to create your plan
Attending a Planning Meeting, either in person or over the phone, is the best way for NDIS to gather all your information, to develop the best plan for you.
During your Planning Meeting, make sure you discuss the goals/activities/tasks you want to achieve with your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or NDIA planner.
Goals/activities/tasks are a really important part of your NDIS plan and we will ask you what you would like to achieve. It could be a goal to use public transport independently; a goal to help build your life skills so you can become more independent, or a goal to assist with family or work duties.
The purpose of a planning meeting
The Planning Meeting would allow you to highlight any short-term goals or any unmet needs in your current life. If your goals/activities/tasks are medium to long-term, your planner can break them down into short-term goals and help you take ‘smaller steps’ towards achieving those bigger goals.
3. Plan approved
Receiving your approved NDIS plan
Your LAC or NDIA planner will talk to you about how long it will take to get your approved NDIS plan and the steps you need to take next.
The NDIA must approve your NDIS plan initially, then once it is approved, your LAC or NDIA planner will give it to you in person, post or via the MyPlace Portal.
There are three types of support budgets that may be funded in your NDIS plan.
- Core Supports budget
Core Supports help you with everyday activities, your current disability-related needs and to work towards your goals. Your Core Supports budget is the most flexible and can be used for low cost (off-the-shelf) consumables such as stump socks, ointments, cosmetic stockings etc.
- Capacity Building Supports budget
Capacity Building Supports help build your independence and skills to help you reach your long-term goals. Funding can only be used to purchase approved individual supports that fall within that Capacity Building category. As your prosthetic provider, we would access funds within your Capacity Building budget under the ‘Improved Daily Living’ category – which covers our clinical time for the “assessment, training or therapy to help increase your skills, independence and community participation”.
- Capital Supports budget
Capital Supports include higher-cost pieces of assistive technology, equipment and home or vehicle modifications, and funding for one-off purchases you may need. The Capital Supports budget has two support categories: Assistive Technology and Home Modifications. Assistive Technology category is where we would access funds for your prosthetic devices – “This includes equipment items for mobility, personal care, communication and recreational inclusion such as wheelchairs or vehicle modifications”.
Using your plan
When you have an approved NDIS plan, you need to understand the different support budgets (see above), who can help you start using your plan, and how your plan is managed.
There are 3 ways you can manage the funds in your plan, which should be explained to you during your Planning Meeting so that you can elect for each Support Budget:
- Agency Managed
The participant has nominated the NDIA to manage the funding for supports provided. After providing those supports, the provider will claim payment for those supports directly from the NDIA via the Provider portal.
- Plan Managed
The funding for any of the supports provided is managed by a Plan Nominee. After providing those supports, the provider will send the participant’s Nominee an invoice for those supports for the participant’s Nominee to pay. - Self Managed
The participant has chosen to self-manage the funding for NDIS supports provided. After providing these supports, the provider will send the participant an invoice for the participant to pay. The participant manages the funds via the MyPlace portal.
Remember to speak with your LAC or planner about how best to manage the funds in your plan.
4. AT quote to be submitted
NDIS will always require a Quote to be submitted by us, for the AT (Prosthetic device) funds to be added to your Capital Supports budget.
The quote(s) will be generated following a full assessment; which will take about an hour to go over your goals, your current prostheses and highlight your prosthetic needs in the future. We may collect Outcome Measures at this appointment to help us generate a prescription that best suits your goals.
At the time of submitting your Prosthetic AT request paperwork, including your quotes to the NDIA we will request payment under your Capacity Building support budget for our clinical time (including assessment, prescription, AT request paperwork and quotes).
5. AT quotes approved
Once the AT quote(s) are approved, you will be notified by the NDIA. During the waiting period for funding to be added to your support budget, you may contact the NDIS or your LAC for updates on its progress.
We have found that the NDIS encourages self-advocacy and while we are happy to follow things up on your behalf, the NDIS responds best when contacted directly by the participant.
Remember, you can also add ‘consent’ for ProMotion Prosthetics in your plan so that we can contact the NDIA directly on your behalf. Speak to your LAC about this during your Planning Meeting.
6. Prosthetic treatment commences
Once the quote(s) have been approved and the funds added to your Capital (AT) support budget, we can commence the Prosthetic treatment.
Your plan will have funds allocated for the remaining months of your (12 month) plan.
Once any work has been provided, we will submit a payment request for that work and provide an invoice to you, your plan manager or the agency (depending on how your plan is being managed).
Things to know:
- Your ‘plan’ being approved does not always mean you have funds allocated for your prosthetic service. This requires a quote from us to be submitted and be approved before those funds can be added to your plan.
- The AT quotes can take months to be approved (depending on the costs required).
- It would be really useful to book in to see us for an appointment prior to having your Planning Meeting with NDIS, and you can contact our office on 03 9532 5098 to arrange an appointment.
- If you have already had your Planning Meeting and have your paperwork, that’s ok too. Call our office on 03 9532 5098 to arrange an appointment for us to talk through your prosthetic service needs.
The Limbs 4 Life website has excellent information to help guide you through your NDIS journey; from registering all the way through to preparing for your Planning Meeting.
Here are some answers that may help guide you through the queries you may first have when you are considering registering with the NDIS:
But I already receive my prosthetic treatment at a Public Department, what does this mean for me?
You may currently be receiving your prosthetic treatment under a public department, funded by the Government’s artificial limb program, but once you become registered with NDIS you can choose to receive your prosthetic treatment with us at ProMotion Prosthetics.
We would be happy to help facilitate the transfer of your Prosthetic treatment, contact us on 03 9532 5098 to discuss your needs.
How will the NDIS work for me?
- NDIS Providers (ProMotion Prosthetics) are registered with the NDIA to deliver a support or product to the participant of the NDIS (you).
- You have choice and control over the providers you wish to engage with to deliver the supports in your plan.
- After you are registered, you will be able to choose which Prosthetic provider suits your needs and goals best, and a plan meeting will be arranged between you and a representative from the agency.
- It is ideal that you make contact with us prior to this meeting, so you are best prepared for the meeting that will be the point by which your plan will be developed and your prosthetic supports related to.
- You will receive an individualised plan that identifies the outcomes you wish to achieve, the disability supports that will be funded by the NDIS, and other supports you require.
- Your plan will last for 12 months, and can cover multiple prostheses for you to achieve all your life, family, work and hobby goals.
What happens if you disagree with what’s in your plan?
You have the right to ask for an internal review of your plan by the NDIA.
Your LAC or NDIA planner will explain how to do this and can put you in touch with advocates who can help you with this process.
Requesting a review
A request for internal review of a decision must be made within three months of receiving notice of the decision from the NDIA.
If you’re not happy with the internal review, you can apply for a review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), which exists outside the NDIA.
If you have any questions, have registered, or are thinking of registering with the NDIS, get in touch with us today on 03 9532 5098 to discuss your needs.
ProMotion Prosthetics Provider Registration #: 4050001505
