Thread by @criprights

How do we think that @AlboMP is going to 'rein in' spending on the NDIS, without talking to us about it first?

And we are talking about a lot of money here - growth is currently at 14%; he is saying they want to commit to a goal of 8%.

So listen up, disabled folk. Important.

2/ There are a couple of ways you can reduce costs and @billshortenmp has signalled that he will be introducing a couple of non controversial measures, including catching the bad guys, cutting red tape and reducing price gouging. It's not clear how he will do the third.

3/ But there are some signals that changes are on the horizon and to be honest, we will all be fairly fucked off (please note, @kurtfearnley and co) if these are landed on us without any discussion. And it is not our first time round the block. #RoboNDIS #IndependentAssessments

4/ Do you remember when Independent Assessments were first heralded, former NDIA CEO Rob de Luca and the entire Medibank board quietly started buying up therapy providers? It's as good as red flag as any cos the sieve of vested interests is really leaky. And this is no exception.

5/ Here's your red flag, spotted by one of our keen eyed autistics. The health funds are quietly and quickly buying up plan managers, financial intermediaries and support coordinator businesses.

Oh, yes. NIB. Other funds. afr.com/street-talk/if…

nib.com.au/media/2023/02/…

6/ Now, it is very hard to imagine that a Labor govt would be in favour of privatisation of anything, really - but the talk about financial intermediaries has been on the table for a long time. Killing off plan management/support coordination, which of course is still needed.

7/ And prior to this, govt was talking about block funding regional and remote areas and certain services - early intervention, for example. But these are not discussions that have been had with the disability community. Would they have unintended consequences? Absofuckinglutely.

8/ They are already talking about registration of all providers and minimum quals and these are also measures that will limit choice and control for people with disability.

The above is only speculation - but it is based on a very good understanding plus history. There's more.

9/ I don't need a crystal ball to work this shit out and neither do you. All you need to do is look at what they are telling their shareholders.

That's what I did. And bear in mind, this buying spree started in October of 22. From NIB.

10/ 'nib has assessed NDIS Plan Management and support coordination over 3 years and sees alignment with our role as a private health insurer in helping people design coverage and connect with healthcare services.'

Three years? You mean the date that Albo just announced? Mmhmm.

11/ First up, they say this. Plan Management is an increasingly popular option for participants with 56%2 electing to use a Plan Manager. This is forecast to grow to 60%-70% of participants by 2030.

They cite Disability Intermediaries Australia as their source for this; 2021.

12/ There are approximately 1,200 Plan Managers (top 10 account for ~40% ) and around 760 support coordinators across Australia at present.

What else could they offer? Well, @mariehjohnson will twitch violently at this next tweet.

13/ In 2019 NIB signed a joint venture with global healthcare services company Cigna to form Honeysuckle, a data science company that uses machine learning to predict someone’s risk of becoming sick.

And then here is their presentation. Fuck. nib.com.au/docs/investor-…

14/ That's right, kids. There's a bunch of AI behind their plans. For those not in the loop, a plan manager is a financial intermediary. And for those who don't understand that, think 'gatekeeping'. No, you can't spend that funding on that thing.

15/ A global partner, you say? And then there is this - There are also arms of the business that provide health treatment packages, a skincare advisory business and a clinical partners program.

Clinical partners? Please do not start with the assessment tool business again.

16/ In nib's 'key risks' - The NDIS sector is also sensitive to Govt policy and regulatory change. Government policy or regulatory change may be adverse to the NDIS industry and nib's strategy and execution plan to build its NDIS business.

They are raising 200m from investors.

17/ As I said, this is speculation. But it is informed speculation and like the canny autistic who spotted these sudden buy ups, there is precedence.

afr.com/work-and-caree…

What else could they block fund? Early intervention? RP? Therapy?

Assessments?

18/ All of this is playing out behind closed doors and I for one am not fucking happy about it. Because this smacks of insider trading and the first people to know about changes to things should be US.

Nothing about us without us, right?

19/ And hey, not to be that guy who is madly supportive of providers, but if I was a support coordinator, a provider or a plan manager, I would be pretty fucked off by being described as a cottage industry player by Mr MegaCorporation. afr.com/chanticleer/wh…

20/ It's 2.30am and I need to sleep, but DO feel free to drop me (or any other Diva/activist you know/trust) intel about this or related matters this weekend.

It's ten days before the Federal budget and there is no time to waste. Oh, and do I have anything against Mark or NIB?

21/ Other than this? No. 'As the Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director & Executive Director of NIB, the total compensation of Mark Fitzgibbon at NIB is AUD$3,080,740.'

I just don't think anyone getting paid three mill a year cares much about disabled folk. I could be wrong.

22/ On the data science and Honeysuckle side - yeah, it's not just me with concerns if there's a plan to block fund some big companies. racgp.org.au/FSDEDEV/media/…

On the plus side, I am near Newcastle right now and I reckon they would LOVE a visit.

23/ This is the same company that called on the government to scrap Medicare. The head of one of Australia's biggest health insurers has called on the government to abolish Medicare and make private health insurance compulsory. afr.com/companies/heal…

24/ The same company who is partnering with CIGNA.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cigna
And yes, this may well be (if it's a plan to block fund services) a competitive tender and they may not get it. But mostly, those with capacity to do this would be multinationals. Because size and scope.

25/ I really do hope this is speculation that will go nowhere. Because if it is a precursor to an independent assessment style row - friends, this will be an epic shitfight of a magnitude you haven't seen since the last remake of Godzilla.

Nothing surer.
#NothingAboutUsWithoutUs

26/ A final of interest here about Cigna. They have been authorised to operate until - 2026. accc.gov.au/public-registe…

I am most curious about all this right now. If it was one health insurer buying up big, I would not be as twitchy. But this makes me twitch.

27/ nib.com.au/docs/2023-comp…

28/ Just landing this here, although I’m sure that Ashurst is huge and being an advisor to nib and lawyers for the ndia is just one of those kwinkydinks.

ndis.gov.au/media/5077/dow…