NDIS Therapy Pricing Changes 2026-27: New Caps for Psychologists, Dietitians and More

TL;DR: The 2026-27 Annual Pricing Review recommends new maximum hourly prices for several therapy disciplines, based on benchmarking against the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and private health insurance (PHI) data. Key recommendations include a maximum of $252.99/hour for Psychologists, a reduction to $178.99/hour for Dietitians, $161.99/hour for Exercise Physiologists, and $156.16/hour for both Orientation and Mobility Specialists and 'Other Professionals'. The APR also recommends separate line items for provider travel and non-face-to-face therapy activities. See our complete guide to the 2026-27 pricing arrangements.

Therapy supports were accessed by more than 465,600 participants between July and December 2025, with total payments of $2.7 billion. Because therapy professionals work across private practice, health, aged care and other government-funded programs, the Annual Pricing Review (APR) uses external benchmarking — against the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), private health insurance (PHI) sources and other comparable government schemes — as its primary reference point for assessing whether NDIS therapy prices are appropriate.

What are the new recommended therapy prices for 2026-27?

The APR recommends the following national maximum hourly prices, based on benchmarking results:

• Psychologist: $252.99 per hour. Benchmarking supports aligning the NDIS price with PHI 1 ($250.00), PHI 2 ($252.00) and MBS ($260.00) data for a 60-minute session. This price applies uniformly across all jurisdictions.
• Dietitian: $178.99 per hour. This is a recommended reduction, taking into account the PHI 2 75th percentile ($155.00 per hour) and the MBS 75th percentile ($152.00 per hour). The APR recommends reducing the price to minimise market disruption while moving toward a more appropriate price.
• Exercise Physiologist: $161.99 per hour. This takes into account the MBS 75th percentile ($152.00) and the PHI 1 75th percentile ($132.00), improving alignment with prevailing market rates while allowing for transition.
• Orientation and Mobility Specialist (OMS): $156.16 per hour. Registration of OMS was recognised by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission in March 2025, and introducing dedicated OMS line items is intended to improve claiming accuracy. Applicable remote loadings and standard ancillary activities apply.
• 'Other Professionals' (not including Early Childhood supports): $156.16 per hour. The APR notes this category is difficult to price because claims are not linked to a specified profession or registration status, meaning prices cannot be reliably benchmarked. In the absence of more robust information, a higher price is not supported by the available evidence.

Why are some therapy prices going down?

For disciplines such as Dietitians and Exercise Physiologists, the APR's benchmarking found a divergence between the existing NDIS price and prevailing market rates reflected in MBS and PHI data. The APR's approach reflects the principle that NDIS pricing should be informed by the broader markets in which therapy professionals operate. Where benchmarking indicates prices should better align with market rates, the APR recommends adjusting NDIS prices accordingly — including reductions where the divergence is large and consistent.

What is changing about how therapy is claimed?

The APR also recommends unbundling activities that are currently grouped together as non-face-to-face time:

• A separate line item for provider travel associated with therapy supports, distinct from the therapy line item, so travel can be claimed and recorded separately from direct service delivery.
• Separate line items for non-face-to-face therapy support provision, including activities such as preparation, documentation, and NDIS-requested reporting.

The APR states these changes are intended to improve transparency and accuracy in claiming and support more consistent claiming practices across providers.

What should participants and therapy providers do?

Participants receiving therapy supports may see their plans and provider agreements updated to reflect these recommended prices. Providers should review the new recommended maximum prices and the new line item structure for travel and non-face-to-face activities. As always, providers must discuss any proposed changes to existing service agreements with participants, and participants must agree before changes are made. For the official prices, refer to the NDIS Pricing Schedule at NDIS.gov.au.

Official source

For the full, official details, read the NDIA's NDIS pricing updates page, where you can download the Annual Pricing Review for 2026-27 and the NDIS Pricing Schedule.

Key Takeaways

• The recommended maximum price for Psychologists is $252.99 per hour, applied uniformly across all jurisdictions.
• Dietitian prices are recommended to reduce to $178.99/hour and Exercise Physiologists to $161.99/hour, based on MBS and PHI benchmarking.
• Orientation and Mobility Specialists and 'Other Professionals' are both recommended at a maximum of $156.16 per hour.
• New separate line items are recommended for provider travel and non-face-to-face therapy activities to improve claiming transparency.