![\"Health](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/https:\/\/prod.static9.net.au\/fs\/a1ce76af-baf1-47e7-a944-97fe29534487.jpeg\")
Health Minister Mark Butler announced the changes at the National Press Club today. (Alex Ellinghausen)<\/p>\nThe government is set to slash the cost of running the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) under sweeping new changes.<\/p>\n
Health Minister Mark Butler told the National Press Club today that the scheme would be redesigned with “hard but unavoidable” changes.<\/p>\n
Butler also handed down decisions to trim aged care spending ahead of the federal budget.<\/p>\n
So what does this mean for NDIS participants and older Australians?\ufeff<\/p>\n
Health Minister Mark Butler announced the changes at the National Press Club today. (Alex Ellinghausen)<\/p>\n
Average plan spend to drop from $31,000 to $26,000<\/p>\n
The total cost of social and community spending will be “reset” under the changes.<\/p>\n
This section of the NDIS provides opportunities for connection and community participation.<\/p>\n
According to Butler, the average plan spend this year is about $31,000, which is up from about $14,000 five years ago.<\/p>\n
“Over the next two years our changes will bring that figure back down to about $26,000, back to where it was in 2023,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Without our changes, that figure will have been more like $33,000.”<\/p>\n
Mandatory registration for some providers<\/p>\n
The government will expand the categories of mandatory registration to include “higher risk activities” such as personal care, daily living supports and supports provided in closed settings.<\/p>\n
However Butler said not every provider needs to be fully registered.<\/p>\n
“We don’t need to monitor retail purchases from a chemist the same way we monitor close personal care of vulnerable people,” he said.<\/p>\n
Showering, continence management and dressing to become free of charge<\/p>\n
The government plans to invest around $1 billion to change the treatment of showering, continence management and dressing under the Support at Home program for older Australians.<\/p>\n
The investment will make this care free of charge alongside clinical care.<\/p>\n
“Dignity in older age, through a world class aged care system, is the least our parents and grandparents deserve,” Butler said.<\/p>\n
Private health cover subsidy for Australians over 65 to be scrapped<\/p>\n
Private health cover for Australians over 65 is currently subsidised at a higher rate than other Australians.<\/p>\n
The government plans to remove this subsidy and divert it into aged care.<\/p>\n
“It’s simply not the best way to spend precious taxpayers’ dollars on behalf of older Australians when we need to do so much heavy lifting in aged care,” Butler said.<\/p>\n
“So, this budget will return the rebate for older Australians back to the level paid for everyone else and divert the money back into aged care.<\/p>\n
“I understand this won’t be a welcome decision for many, but it’s the right thing to do.”<\/p>\n
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