NDIS – National Disability Insurance Scheme – has introduced new task force to investigate providers suspect to overcharge disability participants.
The task force will deal with anyone who impose an NDIS wedding tax and jack up prices just because someone is on the NDIS.
Providers who illegally extorted people with a disability could put out of business, NDIS Minister Bill Shorten vowed.
NDIS Participants and their carers, guardians and nominees would receive letters from this week explaining their rights and how to fight back against providers who overcharge.
“The era of ripping off disabled people on the NDIS is over,” Mr Shorten said.
“Charging you more just because you are simply an NDIS participant is wrong and it is a breach of federal law. We have upgraded the NDIS rules to make it clear overcharging is prohibited and we have further legal changes coming to more strongly prohibit and punish such practices.”
Consumer overcharged will be able to report to the task force and will launch the investigation where a participant may have been overcharged.
Providers are not allowed to charge a higher price for goods for a participant without a reasonable justification.
The providers who are found in breach face financial penalties and permanent bans, as well as criminal sanctions where fraud is suspected.