Report Writing for NDIS at Not Just Bendy (updated June 2024)

 

Striking a Balance: Patient Care and Staff Well-Being

At Not Just Bendy Hypermobility Services, we are committed to offering exceptional care to our clients, which includes supporting your journey with the NDIS. However, it’s important for us to share our perspective on report writing:

1. 1. High Demand, Limited Resources: While we understand the importance of NDIS reports in accessing necessary support, the demand for these reports can be overwhelming. Our resources, especially in terms of staff time and energy, are finite.
   2. Ensuring Staff Well-Being: The process of writing detailed NDIS reports is time-consuming and can be stressful, potentially leading to therapist burnout. Our top priority is the health and well-being of our staff, as they are the cornerstone of the quality care we provide.
   3. Selective Report Writing: In light of these challenges, we are selective in undertaking report-writing tasks. This selectivity includes only completing reports for clients we feel fit the NDIS criteria and who’s applications will be seriously considered by the NDIS.
   4. Our ethics: We will only write in our reports, recommendations that we would be able to testify to in a court of law as being “reasonable and necessary.”  Please do not pressure us to say things that we cannot support from our professional knowledge and experience.
   5. Our Commitment to You: We remain dedicated to supporting our clients as much as possible within these constraints. Our aim is to be transparent about our capabilities and limitations in providing this service.

NDIS Report Writing: For Our Regular Clients

In our commitment to delivering personalized and high-quality care, it’s important to clarify our policy regarding NDIS report writing. Completing reports for the NDIS and access to DSP is complicated and takes a great deal of time.

Due to our skillset predominately being in providing practical-based therapy and our priority being addressing our new patient wait list, we are unfortunately unable to assist with functional capacity assessments/extensive reports. Our waitlist is also closed at this time as it is currently over one year long.

We will continue to provide our existing and ongoing clients with a short supporting letter, but this alone is often insufficient evidence and recommend contacting an occupational therapist for a Functional Capacity Assessment and report. For pre-existing participants applying for a ‘change in your circumstances’ e.g., adding a new diagnosis to their plan. These will be offered subject to the below policy:

1. 1. Exclusive Service for Regular and Engaged Clients: Our NDIS report writing services are tailored for clients who are regularly engaged with our therapies. For us to consider assisting with writing a short supporting letter, clients must have been attending the clinic for a minimum of three sessions (although more preferred) to ensure we have a current and comprehensive understanding of your function.
      
      
   2. Policy for Re-engagement: Clients who have not engaged with our services within the last three months will need to undergo a re-engagement process before we can proceed with NDIS report writing. This involves at least two sessions to reassess your condition and needs, guaranteeing that our reports accurately reflect your current function.
      
      
   3. The Report Process: Please see this section below for further information on how we determine if we are able to write a report for you – just attending the clinic unfortunately is not a guarantee.

 

Reports for NDIS at Not Just Bendy Hypermobility Services

Reports for New NDIS Applicants

For those seeking access to the NDIS for the first time, we are currently only able to offer one option.

1. 1. A Letter of Support:
      1. Length: 1-3 pages.
      2. Contents: Brief report on diagnosis, impairments, intervention to date (at NJB) and recommendations.
   2. NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE – An Extensive Functional Report (or Functional Capacity Assessment)
      1. Length: Approximately 20-30 pages
      2. Contents: Includes your diagnosis, explanation of disabilities, detailed treatment history, detailed assessment in NDIS domains (focusing on mobility, self-care, and self-management), standardized questionnaires, objective measurements, and recommendations.

1. 1.  

Reports for Existing NDIS Participants

For existing NDIS participants, we provide reports for:

1. 1. Plan Reassessment/Review Reports: These are essential for the periodic reassessment of your NDIS plan. The report outlines interventions delivered at NJB, evaluates progress towards your goals, outlines any relevant changes in function, and recommend necessary adjustments to your existing plan.
      
      
   2. Change of Circumstances Reports: Required when there’s a significant change in your condition or circumstances, necessitating a modification in your NDIS support. These reports will only be completed if the proposed change in circumstance is within the scope of physiotherapy practice.
      
      
   3. Other miscellaneous reports: Low/mid cost assistive technology requests and other misc. reports

Please note we do not provide report writing to assist with specialist disability accommodation (SDA) or high-cost assistive technology, as this is out of our scope of clinical practice.

 

Table 1 – Comparative Cost Table for Different Reports

Report Type	Length Estimate	Description	Cost (per hour rate)	Est. Total Cost/Time required	Payment Timing
Access Extensive Functional Report (NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE	20-30 pages	Detailed assessment for NDIS application, including diagnosis, treatments, and domain assessments	See breakdown	Approx $1230.00	See details in table 2
Access Letter of Support	1-3 pages	Brief report on diagnosis, impairments, treatment to date (at NJB) and recommendations.	Hourly rate of clinician	Estimated 1-2 hours, depending on whether specific detail is requested.	One hour deposit prior to commencement. Extra charges paid prior to report being released.
Plan Reassessment/ Review Report	Variable	Review/update of NDIS plan (that does not require any major changes)	$193.99/hr   – plan managed $Private clinician fees/hr – self-managed	1-3 hrs	As time is spent it is billed on the same day
Change of Circumstances Report (Extensive NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE)	Variable	Brief outline of change in participant’s circumstances and impact on physiotherapy management.	$193.99/hr –  plan managed $Private clinician fees/hr – self-managed	Variable	As time is spent it is billed on the same day
Miscellaneous Report.	Variable	Low/Mid cost Assistive technology requests	$193.99/hr – plan managed $Private clinician fees/hr – self-managed	Variable	As time is spent it is billed on the same day

Note: Costs are indicative. For more info on our pricing tiers please visit: https://notjustbendy.com/prices Prices are subject to change.

 

The Report Process for Letters of Support for Access

1. 1. Getting to know you: Our physiotherapists spend time understanding your unique situation. This initial phase is crucial for us to provide a report that truly reflects your needs. Regular attendance in physiotherapy is vital for a strong NDIS application, where the disability results in physical impairments.
      
      
   2. Eligibility Assessment: You must satisfy the following:
      1. Under the age of 65 years old
      2. Have obtained an official diagnosis from a medical specialist in writing
      3. Disability must be caused by a permanent impairment and substantially reduce your functional capacity
      4. You must have tried all reasonable available treatment options
         
         
   3. Report Preparation: Depending on how long you have been a client at NJB Hypermobility Services, our physiotherapists may not require additional information prior to completing the letter. However, in some circumstances a short telehealth appointment (15-30 minutes) to clarify information may be necessary. Questionnaires and objective outcome measures are not completed.
      
      
   4. Waitlist and Timeline: Please allow one month from your request for the letter to be completed.

The Report Process for Extensive Functional Report – NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

Table 2: Estimated Cost Breakdown for Extensive Functional Report with Payment Timing (NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE)

 

Disability Support Pension (DSP) – Supporting Letters

We can assist with providing short supporting letters if you are requiring additional evidence for your DSP application. These letters include:

• • An outline of your condition/s.
  • Briefly explain which medical/allied health disciplines you have or had attended.
  • Briefly explains the functional impact of your condition/s.
  • Completion of Impairment Tables, for your assessment of ability to work.

These letters currently cost the hourly rate of your therapist and are estimated to take one hour although extra time may be necessary and can take approximately one month to be provided. Payment must be provided prior to commencement of the letter.