The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits Explained
- Julian Vilsten
- Feb 19
- 6 min read
Written by Julian Vilsten, Clinical Neuropsychologist and Specialist Behaviour Support Practitioner. Last updated: June 2026
The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, still widely called the NDIS Price Guide, sets the most a registered provider can charge for each funded support. It updates every year, almost always from 1 July. For anyone managing a plan, it is the reference point for checking whether a quoted rate is allowed.
For most participants, the Price Guide is the reference point for knowing what providers can charge. If you want to check whether a rate you have been quoted is within the allowable range, this is where you look.
Key points
What it is: The Price Guide sets the most a registered provider can charge for each NDIS support. They can charge less, never more, on NDIA-managed and plan-managed plans.
When it changes: It updates every year, almost always from 1 July. A 2026-27 version is due around then.
What it covers: More than hourly rates. Travel, cancellations, and report writing all draw down your budget.
How it applies: The rules depend on whether the plan is NDIA-managed, plan-managed, or self-managed.
Why it matters: Checking a quoted rate against the right line item is the fastest way to catch an overcharge.
What Is the NDIS Price Guide?
The Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits is published by the NDIA and lists every support type the NDIS funds. Each support has a unique line item number, a description, and a maximum hourly or unit price. The document is publicly available on the NDIS website.
Beyond hourly rates for services, the Price Guide also sets rules for cancellation fees, provider travel charges, non-face-to-face work (such as report writing), and what is and is not billable. These are often overlooked, but they directly affect how much of your plan is used per appointment. A provider who bills for travel, report writing, and the session itself draws down more funding per visit than the session rate alone would suggest.
The Price Guide is reviewed annually through a process that considers market data, wage award changes, and industry engagement. The resulting rate changes typically take effect from 1 July each year. It is worth checking the current version on the NDIS website, as interim updates can also occur outside the annual cycle.
How Do Price Limits Apply?
The rules differ depending on how your plan is managed, and on which budget the support is funded from.
NDIA-managed
The NDIA pays registered providers directly. Providers must charge at or below the Price Guide maximum, and participants can only use registered providers. For behaviour support specifically, this is the most common management type. Specialist behaviour support requires a registered provider regardless of how the plan is managed, but NDIA-managed participants have no option to use unregistered providers for any service.
Plan-managed
A plan manager pays providers on your behalf. Providers must still charge within Price Guide limits. The advantage of plan management is access to both registered and unregistered providers for most support types while still maintaining the price ceiling. For behaviour support, the provider must still be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, even under plan management.
Self-managed
You manage your own funding and pay providers directly. You can choose to pay above the Price Guide maximum if you believe a provider offers value that justifies the higher rate. Self-managed participants have the most flexibility in provider choice. For behaviour support, the practitioner must still be assessed as suitable under the PBS Capability Framework, though the provider does not need to be a registered NDIS provider.
How Do You Read a Line Item?
Each entry in the Price Guide has a consistent structure: a line item number, a support description, and a maximum price.
The line item number
The number identifies the support category, the specific support type, and the registration group. For example, behaviour support line items sit under registration group 0110 (Specialist Positive Behaviour Support). You do not need to memorise these numbers, but knowing which line items your providers claim against helps you track spending. Your plan manager or support coordinator can confirm the relevant items.
What the price limit tells you
The listed price is the maximum a provider can charge per hour or per unit for that support. This is the rate that applies when services are delivered during standard business hours. Different rates may apply for evenings, weekends, and public holidays, and these are also listed in the Price Guide.
What to check
Compare the rate on your invoice or service agreement against the Price Guide maximum for the relevant line item. If you are NDIA-managed or plan-managed and the rate exceeds the listed maximum, that is a claiming error. If you are self-managed and a provider quotes above the cap, that additional cost comes from your allocation and depletes your budget faster.
What Else Does the Price Guide Cover?
Cancellation fees
Providers can charge a cancellation fee if a participant cancels with less than the required notice period. The Price Guide specifies the notice period and the maximum cancellation rate. This is worth checking because repeated late cancellations can reduce your available funding without any service being delivered.
Travel charges
Providers can bill for the time it takes to travel to a participant. The Price Guide sets limits based on geographic location: shorter travel allowances in metropolitan areas, longer in regional and remote areas. Travel is billed at the same hourly rate as the service itself and comes from the same budget.
Non-face-to-face work
Report writing, phone calls with other providers, and other non-face-to-face activities can be billed under many line items. The Price Guide specifies whether a particular line item allows non-face-to-face claiming. For behaviour support, non-face-to-face work includes writing behaviour support plans, conducting desktop reviews, and liaising with the support network. These activities are legitimate and necessary, but participants should understand that they are billable.
Geographic loadings
Price limits are higher in remote and very remote areas: generally 40% higher in remote areas and 50% higher in very remote areas. If you are receiving services in a regional or remote location, the applicable rate may be higher than the standard metropolitan rate.
Why Does This Matter for Your Plan?
The Price Guide is not something most participants read cover to cover. The practical value is in three areas.
Checking whether you are being charged within the allowable limits. If a rate on your invoice does not match the Price Guide for that line item, raise it with your provider or plan manager.
Understanding what is billable beyond session time. Travel, cancellations, and non-face-to-face work all draw from the same budget. Knowing this helps you understand why your funding may deplete faster than the session rate alone would suggest. How quickly your budget is used also depends on your funding periods.
Reviewing your service agreement. Your service agreement with a provider should specify the rates being charged, the cancellation policy, and what non-face-to-face work is included. The Price Guide sets the ceiling, but the service agreement is where the specific terms of your arrangement are documented. Read it before signing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can an NDIS provider charge per hour?
It depends on the support. The Price Guide sets a separate maximum for each line item. As a reference point, the 2025-26 limit for specialist behaviour support is $232.99 per hour, while standard weekday support work sits well below that. Limits change each year, so always check the current guide.
When does the NDIS Price Guide change?
The main update lands each year on 1 July, after the NDIA's annual pricing review. Smaller updates can happen mid-year. The 2026-27 version is expected from 1 July 2026, so any rate quoted before then may shift. Always work from the current version on the NDIS website.
Can an NDIS provider charge a cancellation fee?
Yes, within limits. For disability support work, a provider can charge up to 100% of the fee if you cancel with less than seven days notice. For therapy supports, the notice period is two clear business days. They can only charge if they cannot fill the slot.
How much can a provider charge for travel?
Since 1 July 2025, therapy providers can claim up to half their hourly rate for time spent travelling, capped by location. They can also pass on costs like parking and tolls if you agree to it. Travel comes out of your plan, so it is worth understanding before services start.
Do NDIS price limits apply to self-managed participants?
Not strictly. If you self-manage, you can agree to pay above the listed maximum where you think a provider is worth it. The cap is binding for NDIA-managed and plan-managed plans. Either way, paying more uses your budget faster.
Can NDIS providers add gap fees or extra charges?
No. Registered providers cannot add gap fees, credit card surcharges, or other extras on top of the support cost. If you see a charge like this on an invoice, query it with the provider or your plan manager.
If you are looking for Positive Behaviour Support, psychology, or neuropsychology services, Outcomes Lab works across Melbourne, VIC and Port Lincoln, SA. Our team is neuroaffirming, NDIS-registered, and focused on practical outcomes
About the author
Julian Vilsten is a Clinical Neuropsychologist, Specialist Behaviour Support Practitioner, and the Director of Outcomes Lab. He has over 15 years of experience in mental health and disability services. Outcomes Lab provides NDIS psychology, neuropsychological assessment, and positive behaviour support services in Melbourne, VIC and Port Lincoln, SA.
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