Speak Out October 2020 DIGITAL EDITION FINAL

A: The NDIA have very strict guidelines regarding what is appropriate and will be covered under this telehealth process. They have stated that they will ONLY cover items where: • you need the equipment to maintain funded (existing) NDIS supports, • your support provider has confirmed in writing that this equipment is necessary to maintain funded NDIS supports, • the item is the lowest specification that will maintain funded supports, • you do not have access to the item, • the item is not funded through a different support system, • no other exclusions apply. Very specifically they have said “You can only buy items that help you continue to access your existing supports and services.” And that NDIS funding cannot be used for: • any item that does not relate to the participant’s disability or that doesn’t help to maintain NDIS funded supports and services, • devices with specifications beyond the minimum needed, • smart phones, smart watches, iPads or tablets with mobile connections (e.g. 3G or 4G), • multiple devices, • replacements for loss or damage, • utility costs (internet connection), • software, • additional hardware or accessories: or, • purchase of items when rental options may be appropriate. As a provider of the supports, you have ethical obligations to follow these guidelines, and only clinically recommend things that are appropriate. You must tell the truth, and you have to specifically state in the letter “how the device is necessary to maintain supports and services while maintaining physical distancing requirements” e.g how that item is necessary to actually be able to continue receiving services when they cannot be delivered face to face. It would not be appropriate to ask the NDIA to fund a piece of equipment that is not related to actually receiving supports online. This equipment also cannot be used to access education or school based activities as “Education systems continue to be responsible for providing inclusive education supports like resources and training for teachers, aids and equipment to make education accessible.” If the client is wishing to apply for an iPad for communication purposes, then you might use

the regular AT process and advocate for it being reasonable and necessary and put in to the next plan. However this is not an opportunity to obtain items that would not normally meet the criteria, as the NDIA can audit the family and they may need to pay the money back, or return the equipment, or they may not be reimbursed for their purchases. We have an ethical responsibility to only recommend resources and interventions that are evidence based and appropriate for your client’s unique context. Our role within a clinical relationship is to assess the needs of the participant, and advocate for these needs. This should be done in partnership with the participant or their significant others, wherever possible. When situations such as this arise our clinical history and rapport with the participant helps us to make a clinically and ethically appropriate decision. When we communicate this to the participant, we act honestly and demonstrate respect by understanding the scope of the support the NDIS can and cannot provide. This might result in a difficult conversation, as you may need to refuse this request, but having a personal understanding of the parameters of the NDIS will stand you in good stead, and will ensure you have made an ethically sound decision.

Ethics

Erin West NDIS and Practice Advisor Nadia Marussinszky Ethics Advisor

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Speak Out | October 2020