What telehealth means under the NDIS
Telehealth is a direct support delivered through video technology or the phone, with you taking part in real time. It is still a session with your therapist, just not in the same room. It is different from non face to face time, where a provider works for you without you there, such as writing a report.
The 2026/27 NDIS pricing schedule lists a separate telehealth line, ending in _TH, for each therapy item. That covers allied health such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, psychology, speech pathology, social work, dietetics, counselling and exercise physiology, as well as therapy assistants, behaviour support and early childhood supports.
The rules providers must follow
Under the NDIS Pricing Arrangements, a provider can only claim a telehealth session when all of these are true:
- Delivering that support by telehealth is appropriate
- The charges follow the price limits and your service agreement
- The session is part of delivering a specific support to you, not general admin or rostering
- The provider has explained the session and why it is a good use of your funds
- You agreed in advance, usually because your service agreement says telehealth can be claimed
How much telehealth costs
In the 2026/27 pricing schedule every telehealth line has the same price limit as the face to face service. Occupational therapy is $193.99 an hour, physiotherapy $183.99 and psychology $252.99 in most of Australia, whether you are in the room or on screen.
Provider travel can only be claimed when the main support is delivered face to face, so you should never be charged travel for a telehealth session. For telehealth, the price limit is generally based on where the practitioner is. If you live in a remote or very remote area, you can agree to the higher limit if you are satisfied it is value for money.
When telehealth works well, and when it does not
Telehealth can save travel time and money, give you access to a specialist who lives far away, and keep therapy going when you are unwell or between places. Talking therapies, parent coaching, follow up reviews and many speech and psychology sessions often work well online.
It is less suited to hands on work, such as manual physiotherapy, fitting equipment, home modification assessments or anything where the therapist needs to see you move in your space. Providers have a duty of care to give the same standard of care by video as they would in person, so a good provider will say when face to face is the better choice.
Making telehealth sessions work
- Check your service agreement says telehealth can be used, and for which supports
- Ask which platform your provider uses and test it before the first session
- Find a quiet, private space, and have a support person nearby if that helps
- Ask for written notes or a home program after each session
- Mix telehealth with face to face visits if that gives you the best of both
For providers
Write telehealth into your service agreements, explain the value to the participant before you use it, and claim with the telehealth claim type on the matching support item. Keep the same notes and records you would for a face to face session. From 1 December 2026 claims must be made within 90 days of the support, so invoice promptly.