Service price caps under Support at Home — where the rules stand
Service price caps were part of the original Support at Home design. The policy intent was to set a maximum hourly rate per service so participants would not pay above market for funded services. The implementation was subsequently deferred by the Department of Health while consultation continued. This page explains the current state in plain English.
- Service price caps are not currently in force
- Providers set their own rates within the broader Support at Home rules
- The published rate determines the participant contribution amount
- Always compare your provider's rate against the network median
What the cap rule was meant to do
The original design intended to set a maximum allowable hourly rate for each common service (cleaning, gardening, transport, personal care, allied health, nursing). Providers charging above the cap would be unable to bill the participant's quarterly budget for the excess. The participant would either accept the gap as a private cost or move to a provider within the cap.
Why it was deferred
The Department received significant submissions during consultation. Concerns included regional cost differences, allied health rates that legitimately exceed any reasonable cap, and the risk of providers withdrawing from low margin regions. The cap implementation has been pushed back while a more nuanced rate guidance approach is developed.
What protects households in the meantime
- The published per service rate sets the participant's contribution. Above that rate the participant pays the gap in full
- Providers must disclose their pricing clearly in the care plan and on statements
- Network median rates are visible in tools like the Wayly Provider Price Checker
- OPAN (1800 700 600) provides free advocacy if you believe your provider is charging unfairly