The Million-Dollar Question: What are the Ethical Considerations of Public Funding Provisions for Australian Speech-Language Pathologists Engaged in Independent Practice?

Figures & data

Table 1 Summary: public funding typologies and examples of associated public funding models used in Australian independent speech-language pathology practices for children and young persons

Australian funding typology	Example: associated public funding model accessed within Australian independent practice
Health insurance	Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Item 10970: Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDMP) Items 82005, 93033, 93041 (assessment) and 82020, 93036, 93044 (treatment): Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders^a Item 81360: Allied Health Services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent
Social insurance	National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Early childhood approach (under 7 years) Ages 7 to 64 years
Third party insurance	Transport Accident Commission, Victoria Speech-language pathology treatment related to accident injuries
Education	Independent Schools of Victoria, Students with Disabilities Speech Fluency Language Voice Alternative communication

Note. See Nickless et al. (2023).

^a As of 1 March 2023, both Helping Children With Autism (HCWA) and Better Start for Children with Disability (BS) have been categorised under a new Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item titled Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders (Department of Health and Aged Care, 2023).

Table 2 Participant demographics

Participant (P#)	State	Independent practice experience (total years)	Hourly service rate ($AUD)	Public funding (percent of total practice revenue)
P01	NSW	11-15	151-200	30
P02	QLD	16-20	151-200	80
P03	VIC	6-10	151-200	97
P04	VIC	0-5	151-200	90
P05	VIC	16-20	151-200	97
P06	VIC	0-5	151-200	50
P07	SA	11-15	151-200	70
P08	SA	0-5	101-150	97
P09	TAS	21+	200+	60
P10	VIC	21+	200+	85
P11	VIC	16-20	151-200	40
P12	NSW	6-10	151-200	50
P13	NSW	0-5	151-200	70
P14	WA	6-10	151-200	75
P15	VIC	0-5	200+	40
P16	NSW	21+	151-200	70
P17	ACT	0-5	151-200	99
P18	QLD	0-5	151-200	60
P19	NT	6-10	151-200	2
P20	NT	0-5	151-200	50

Nickless, T., Gold, L., Dowell, R., & Davidson, B. (2023). Public purse, private service: The perceptions of public funding models ofAustralian independent speech-language pathologists. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2023.2213864

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Department of Health and Aged Care. (2023). Changes to Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorder and eligible disability items: Quick reference guide. Australian Government.

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