00:00Initially, this price change was discussed back in November last year when the federal
00:07government announced that the maximum rate of $194 that music and art therapists could
00:15charge would be reduced to $68 unless the therapists could show that the work they were
00:22doing with the participants was improving the participants' functional capacity.
00:28And there was a huge backlash to that across the sector, including with prominent musicians
00:34coming out in support of the work that, for example, music therapists were doing and the
00:39evidence behind the therapy.
00:42So an independent review was called, and today that independent review has recommended that
00:47a price cap of $156 an hour, that's a maximum of $156 an hour, be introduced.
00:55That was recommended by the person who led the review, Dr Stephen Duckett, a health economist,
01:02and he said that people who were running these therapies could charge this particular hourly
01:09price if they were qualified, if they were registered with a recognised professional association,
01:15and they could show that their work was having benefits for NDIS participants.
01:20So what have art and music therapy bodies had to say on this?
01:24Well, look, they have welcomed the recognition for their work and are pleased that that has
01:29happened, but they are concerned at the $156 an hour cap that has been effectively reduced
01:37from the $194.
01:39They say that it could still threaten the viability of providers.
01:44They say that their qualifications are significant, in many cases, postgraduate study.
01:49They have ongoing training.
01:51And that they do have specialised materials and techniques involved in their work, and
01:58that this reduction kind of undermines that.
02:02And what happens now, Naz?
02:03Well, the agency that runs the NDIS, the National Disability Insurance Agency, has adopted the
02:10recommendations of this review, and in particular, the $156 an hour cap in full, and that is due
02:19to come into effect in late November.
02:22And the art and music sector has said it will continue to speak to the agency about its thoughts
02:28and feelings about this cap.
02:30Thanks, Naz.
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