<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The government will drastically slash the cost of running the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-politics-anthony-albanese-flags-major-changes-to-ndis/b200d4e9-a4e8-4803-98c4-be2459601cc0" rel="" target="_blank" title="National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)"><span>National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)</span></a><span> by billions of dollars over the next four years after the program became inundated by "fraudsters".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Health Minister Mark Butler delivered the sweeping changes in a National Press Club Address ahead of the federal budget and said the $15 billion blow to the NDIS will ensure it is no longer "an ATM for shonks, grifters, fraudsters and crooks".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Describing the changes as "hard but unavoidable" decisions, Butler said the scheme will be redesigned to stop providers from rorting the system and reassess eligibility to reduce the spiralling number of people on the scheme.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-22-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/c3a8451b-6736-489e-8f50-adf4641cb25c" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump says he will extend ceasefire</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Butler said taxpayer dollars spent on the NDIS will be reduced from a forecasted $70 billion to around $55 billion by 2030.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There are more than 760,000 people on the NDIS in Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It costs too much and is growing too fast,' Butler said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/ndis-announcement-mark-butler-national-press-club-speech/9eeadad4-6e3c-4e39-b003-b8f594127adb" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We can't afford for the NDIS to continue growing at its current rate."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NDIS funds per participant will be wound back from an average $31,000 per person to around $26,000.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The government will also reduce spending on third-parties who manage the majority of NDIS plans and claims by around 30 per cent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NDIS providers will be more heavily vetted under the changes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/pokies-loss-sounds-neil-walshe-fight-to-change-law-to-help-gambling-addicts/3337fa94-a633-47a2-a638-abbe1a3be3ce" target="_blank"><strong><span>Neil wants pokies machines to play 'losing sounds'. Here's why</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Too often in the NDIS, we see that competition play out with third parties cutting costs and cutting corners to get as many plans on the books as possible rather than trying to win clients based on the quality of their service," Butler added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Instead of this contest, our government will identify a shortlist of accountable, quality providers which people can choose from."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The government will also make it harder for people to access NDIS funds, with eligibility rules set to change.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A "standardised, evidence-based assessments of a person's functional capacity to determine access" to the NDIS will be introduced, Butler said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>More to come.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>