A Plan Manager will help you organise the financial side of your NDIS plan, much like an bookkeeper. Their role is to ensure that funds are being spent in line with your budget.
The best Plan Managers are well qualified, either as accountants, bookkeepers or general accounts people, and also have experience in health or disability fields. They are expected to follow payment and price controls set by the NDIA.
Plan Management is funded by the NDIS. At your planning meeting, simply tell your NDIS Planner that you would like a Plan Manager to support you.
The Plan Manager’s role is to submit claims to the NDIS for supports and services after they have been provided, as well as pay the actual providers of those supports. This is done by claiming money from the right budget categories on the NDIA portal.
Receiving invoices from your providers should be made simple for all parties (whether it’s you passing these on to your Plan Manager, or the providers invoicing your Plan Manager directly.)
Paying providers should also be done as quickly as possible. Auscare Support currently pays providers within 3-4 days and is working towards 1-day turnaround.
Your Plan Manager needs to supply you with regular reports and statements and let you know if you’ve over- or underspent your budget, but their role isn’t to choose or develop service agreements with providers. (See Support Coordination).
If you’re using a Plan Manager, providers cannot charge more than the price limits outlined in the NDIS price guide.