NDIS and Massage Therapy: What Does NDIS Funding Cover?

Are you one of the 4.3 million Australians who are living with a disability (or caring for a person with a disability)? If you or someone you’re caring for is an NDIS participant, you might be wondering what kinds of activities and therapies are covered by your NDIS funding. 

The way you use your NDIS support budget will depend on what goals you’re working towards. But, there are a few important things to know about what your NDIS funding might and might not cover. 

To help you get the most out of your NDIS funding package, let’s explore what kinds of self-care activities and wellness therapies are funded by NDIS, the benefits of mobile wellness platforms for NDIS participants and how to book a mobile therapy appointment in a few simple steps.

Does NDIS cover massage therapy? 

This answer depends on both how your NDIS fund is managed and you or your client’s individual needs.

If you’re a self-managed and plan-managed participant, you may be able to use your NDIS funding to cover the costs of massage therapy, however, this depends on your individual needs and whether this support is related to your disability and will help you pursue your goals and aspirations.

Participants requiring support to improve mobility and muscle function or relief from chronic pain or stiffness in joints may be able to access funding for massage therapy under their plan.

How do I access massage services through NDIS funding:

Accessing massage services via your NDIS fund depends on how your fund is managed. There are three key ways to manage your funding as an NDIS participant:

• Self-managed: You’ll be given access to your NDIS funding and will be able to manage this yourself based on the goals you’re working towards. Self-managed NDIS participants that have massage therapy covered under their capacity-building budget can book and pay for their massage and then make a payment request with their funds using the receipt.
  
• Plan-managed: You’ll be given a Plan Manager who will help match you with providers, keep track of your funds, and take care of the financial reporting for you. Plan-managed NDIS participants will need to speak with their plan managers and determine whether the service is covered under their funding. Blys can also call plan managers on behalf of clients to determine this and manage the booking and payment.
  
• NDIA-managed: This means the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) will pay providers and manage your funding on your behalf. NDIA-managed participants must work with registered NDIA providers. We recommend speaking with the NDIA to determine whether this service is covered under your funding.

The best way to find out if massage therapy is covered by your NDIS funding is to chat with your fund manager to double-check what is and isn’t covered.

Alternatively, contact our Homecare Client Services team and we’ll chat with your plan manager or support coordinator directly.

What other self-care activities are covered by NDIS funding?

Massage therapy is one of the core types of self-care activities you can cover using your NDIS funding. Within the health and well-being support category, you may be eligible to claim other therapeutic services to help improve your movement and support your overall wellbeing.

The biggest thing to remember about your NDIS funding is that it has to be used for treatments and therapies that are directly related to your disability. 

In addition to massage therapy, NDIS may be able to fund your access to exercise or diet advice to manage the impact of your disability (such as working with a nutritionist, sports therapist or a physiotherapist), as well as some of your other self-care activities such as personal grooming services (haircuts) and hand and foot care (manicure, pedicure, podiatry) which can be provided by a qualified professional under the “Assistance With Self-Care Activities” category.

If you’re unsure, simply contact our Homecare Client Services team and we’ll be happy to help you.

How mobile wellness is making self-care more accessible for NDIS participants

Access to self-care and wellness therapies are so important, especially for people living with a disability. However, travelling to appointments can be difficult if you live in a regional or rural area, need to rely on public transport or require assistance from support workers or loved ones. 

That’s why we’re so passionate about the benefits of mobile massage therapy here at Blys. We want to make it easier for NDIS participants to access therapies and support (like remedial massages), which is why we bring experienced therapists to your door. 

Therapists using the Blys platform are able to tailor treatments to your needs and schedule and allow you to access these self-care treatments from the comfort of your home.

How to book a Blys treatment through your NDIS fund

Here at Blys, we have a dedicated support team to help you or your clients access Blys with ease. Simply head to our NDIS Massage page to learn more and make an enquiry, and our support coordinators will guide you every step of the way to access a mobile massage, beauty or wellness treatment. 

We’ll work with you to ensure you or your participant is eligible to use their NDIS funding and we’ll gather all the information we need to lock in this treatment.