Price limits are maximums
From 1 July 2026 the NDIS Pricing Schedule sets the most a provider can charge for each support. A provider may charge less, but never more. For standard (non-remote) areas, the 2026–27 limits for the two services Exercare provides are:
| Therapy | 2025–26 | 2026–27 |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational therapy | $193.99 per hour | $193.99 per hour (no change) |
| Exercise physiology | $166.99 per hour | $161.99 per hour |
These are limits set by the NDIA. The rate in your own service agreement is agreed with your provider before you start.
What counts as a session
Under the 2026–27 item codes, a therapy session at home is claimed on the base therapy item. Other work is claimed separately with a suffix. The ones that matter most for home visits are:
- Provider travel (_PT): the therapist's travel time to reach you, capped at 50 per cent of the hourly rate
- Non-face-to-face work (_NF): work that is specific to you, such as writing a program or reviewing assessment results
- Reports requested by the NDIA (_RR): for example a progress report for a plan reassessment
- Telehealth (_TH): a live video session, claimed at the same hourly limit
- Short-notice cancellation (_CA): where your service agreement allows a cancellation fee
Our full explainer on the 2026–27 item code changes lists every suffix with examples.
A worked example at the price limits
Example only, using the maximum limits: a one-hour OT home visit claims up to $193.99. If the therapist travels for 30 minutes, travel claims up to about $48.50, which is half of 30 minutes at half the hourly rate. The session and travel together take up to about $242.50 from your Capacity Building budget. A provider who charges below the limit would take less.
This is an illustration of how the limits work, not a quote. Your invoice shows the exact amounts, and your plan manager can see how each line was claimed.
Ways to stretch your therapy budget
- Ask how many sessions are planned and what each one aims to achieve
- Ask for a home program you can practise between visits, so sessions focus on progress
- Ask whether sessions can be grouped so travel is shared across your week
- Ask whether telehealth suits some of your follow-ups
- Check whether equipment or home changes belong in your Capital budget instead of therapy hours
Where the money comes from in your plan
Under the NDIS, occupational therapy is usually funded from Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living Skills (Category 15). Equipment is funded from Capital – Assistive Technology (Category 05) and home modifications from Capital – Home Modifications (Category 06). Self-funded OT is limited to functional capacity assessments for people applying for the NDIS. Exercise physiology can sit under Improved Daily Living Skills or Improved Health and Wellbeing, depending on how your plan is set up. Your plan manager or support coordinator can confirm which applies to you.
Ask us about your plan
Exercare's occupational therapists visit you at home across Melbourne, with no waitlist. One NDIS intake form gets you started.
Questions to ask any provider about cost
- What is the hourly rate in my service agreement?
- How is travel charged and where does it start from?
- What is your cancellation policy?
- Will I get a written estimate for assessments and reports?
- How will I be told if prices change during my plan?
Evidence referenced in this article
- National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA): information for participants and providers.
Written by the Exercare allied health team. This article is general information only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Exercare provides mobile exercise physiology and NDIS occupational therapy across south-east and eastern Melbourne.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an OT session cost on the NDIS?
The maximum the NDIS allows for occupational therapy in 2026–27 is $193.99 per hour in standard areas. A provider may charge less. Your service agreement sets the rate you pay from your plan.
How much does an exercise physiology session cost on the NDIS?
The 2026–27 price limit for exercise physiology is $161.99 per hour, down from $166.99. Your service agreement sets the actual rate.
Can I be charged for travel?
Yes. Provider travel time can be claimed at up to 50 per cent of the hourly rate. It should appear as its own line on your invoice.
Do I pay out of pocket for NDIS therapy?
Not if the therapy is funded in your plan and you are within your budget. Self-managed participants pay the provider and claim back from the NDIS.
Do the price limits apply to self-funded FCAs?
Exercare bills self-funded functional capacity assessments at the NDIS occupational therapy price limit, so the same hourly figure applies.