Research: NDIS Reforms Penalize Clients

A new survey has revealed that many National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) clients, who are dependent on the now excluded qualified Remedial Massage Therapists and Myotherapists to maintain their health and well-being, will be worse off under the new Supports rules.

Ann Davey, CEO Massage & Myotherapy Australia said that the results provide a very high level of confidence that people with disabilities, who are highly dependent on massage therapies delivered by qualified professional Remedial Massage Therapists and Myotherapists, will be worse off under the new Supports rules.'

The respondents to a Pulse Survey involving around 10,000 members of the three leading massage/complementary health associations indicated that members are losing low-income disability clients, while many who can afford it, are opting to pay for their services themselves. Only a very few have alternative insurance schemes or options where they can receive assistance for these services.

Mrs Davey said, 'The results also show that they are voting with their feet and their wallets, rather than lose the services of qualified Remedial Massage therapists and Myotherapists which are no longer available under the new Supports rules.'

Of those members who responded to the Survey:

• 73.4% treated NDIS clients
• 53.3% treated 1 to 3 NDIS clients, 19.1% treated 1 to 6 clients and 27.3% treated more than 6 clients.

Respondents also indicated that NDIS clients presented with the following impairments:

• Intellectual 23.97%
• Cognitive 28.29%
• Neurological 64.15%
• Sensory 29.16%
• Physical 88.12%
• Psychosocial 35.42%

Mrs Davey said, 'The veracity of the decision to exclude professional qualified Remedial Massage Therapists and Myotherapists is highly questionable because it assumes that the functional impact of massage delivered by qualified Massage Therapists is less than the impact of allied health practitioners who will be funded.

'This is simply incorrect and NDIS clients are choosing to use their own funds to maintain services, or reduce the frequency of remedial massage therapy because they are unlikely to be delivered as effectively by other health professionals.'

Respondents to the survey indicated that:

• Clients are self-funding or paying privately 41.5%
• Reduced frequency or shorter sessions due to cost 6.8%
• Some clients are using private health insurance to afford services 4.8%
• Practitioners are offering discounts or alternative funding options 11.6%
• Collaboration with allied health professionals and referring on 23.1%

• Other - undefined 12.2%

Mr David Liesegang, CEO Australian Natural Therapists Association, said that the decision appears to lack an evidence base given that the professional massage sector created and maintains the education and training standards in Remedial Massage Therapy and Myotherapy.

Mr Liesegang said, 'Accredited massage associations maintain and enforce strict codes of member conduct, comprising high ethical and professional standards, that are aligned with their competencies in practising evidenced based massage techniques and modalities.

Mr Liesegang said that before the changes, many highly competent and qualified Remedial Massage Therapists and Myotherapists were providing reliable services to NDIS clients who were benefitting significantly in maintaining their health and wellbeing, improving their mobility and reducing disability related pain and stress.

Further evidence of this is a 2023 survey of Massage & Myotherapy Australia's 8600 members. This survey revealed the highly specialised nature of services provided by professional qualified Remedial Massage therapists and Myotherapists and the need for specialised training and education modules.

• Over 75% of respondents indicated that one in three of their clients have autism, and 41% of respondents indicating that they treat clients with autism.

'Under the new Supports rules, we can expect that disability clients, especially those on low incomes will be worse off and no longer receive the Remedial Massage Therapy or Myotherapy services that they have depended on.

'Paradoxically, requirements to become an accredited member of a professional association for Massage Therapists or Myotherapists such as Massage & Myotherapy Australia, Australian Natural Therapists Association and Australia Traditional Medicine Society mirror AHPRA registration requirements for allied health practitioners.'

Qualified Remedial Massage Therapists and Myotherapists who are now excluded from the NDIS, are still practicing health professionals who hold nationally recognised qualifications, and like APRAH registration have annually reviewed membership with accredited associations in order to become registered Providers to many other insurance schemes including: WorkSafe Vic, WorkSafe SA, WorkSafe Tas, the National Aged Care Package, and the Private Health Insurance Rebates scheme.

Ms Gibbins said, 'These insurance schemes provide working, profitable models and unlike the old NDIS, have fixed rate cards, which help to control expenditure and limit abuse. They should provide a reliable basis on which to determine eligibility for NDIS funding under a more inclusive service model that encourages and supports universal access, self-management and choice.'

'We hope that the abuses of the past are reigned in, but these problems are no reason to penalise people with disabilities by excluding the health professionals that have reliably provided valuable and much needed Remedial Massage Therapy and Myotherapy services.'

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Key Facts:

A new survey has revealed that many National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) clients, who are dependent on the now excluded qualified Remedial Massage Therapists and Myotherapists to maintain their health and well-being, will be worse off under the new Supports rules.

About us:

Massage & Myotherapy Australia is a not-for-profit organisation formed in 2003 and is the leading representative body for professional massage therapists nationwide, with a membership of over 8,600 therapists.