The proposal would fund a new bulk-billed Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item to perform National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) functional assessments for current and prospective participants with the following options.

• Option 1: All potential entrants to the NDIS would be eligible to receive a one-off assessment.
• Option 2: All NDIS participants would receive regular assessments (adults every three years and children under 18 every year) to inform planning decisions.
• Option 3: All NDIS participants with a psychological disability would receive regular assessments every three years.

The assessments would be undertaken by health care professionals from a range of areas including general practitioners, consultation physicians, occupational therapists, clinical and registered psychologists, physiotherapists, speech pathologists and other allied health providers. Individuals would be able to select their own health care professional to undertake the assessment. Participants would also be able to choose a suitable place for their assessment, including at home, in a consultation room or by video conference.

The proposal would have effect from 1 July 2022.