Have you been advised to get a Functional Capacity Assessment? One of the first questions you might have is: how much does a Functional Capacity Assessment cost?
Functional Capacity assessments are a comprehensive assessment which takes into consideration your functioning throughout all areas of your life. It combines multiple standardised assessments, clinical reasoning, reviewing relevant information to produce a detailed report which explains your functional capacity and support needs. Therefore the cost of a Functional Capacity Assessment is not only based on the time you spend face to face with your Occupational Therapist.
At Urban Health HQ our Functional Capacity Assessments are completed by one of our Occupational Therapists. They are individualised assessments which means the cost can vary depending on the complexity of the assessment, amount of information that needs to be reviewed and the level of reporting required.
How Much Does a Functional Capacity Assessment Cost?
Functional Capacity Assessments are individualised reports, which means the cost can vary depending on the complexity of the report.
At Urban Health HQ we bill Functional Capacity Assessments based off of the time it takes to complete the assessment and report. This means that rather than paying a set fee regardless of complexity, you will be charged for the time that was actually taken to complete your report.
A typical Functional Capacity Assessment takes 2-3 hours of face-to-face assessment, followed by additional Occupational Therapy time to score assessments, review reports, develop recommendations and write the report. Typically this will result in reports taking approximately 10-15 hours depending on the complexity, billed at the standard NDIS Occupational Therapy hourly rate.
Why does an FCA cost more than a standard OT appointment?
It can be confusing to see the total cost of a Functional Capacity Assessment when the face-to-face appointment itself may only take a few hours.
An FCA is much more than the time spent sitting with your Occupational Therapist.
The face-to-face assessment is where we gather important information about your daily life and assess how your disability affects your functioning. However, a significant amount of clinical work occurs outside this appointment.
Depending on your circumstances, your Occupational Therapist may spend professional time on:
Reviewing your background information
This may include medical reports, previous therapy reports, NDIS documentation and other relevant information about your disability, health and current supports.
Completing the assessment
Your Occupational Therapist will discuss and assess areas of everyday functioning relevant to your individual circumstances. This may include personal care, domestic activities, mobility, communication, cognition, community access, relationships, work or education.
Completing standardised assessments
Where appropriate, validated assessment tools will be used to provide additional information about your functional capacity.
Scoring and interpreting assessment results
Standardised assessments aren’t simply questionnaires that are attached to a report. Your Occupational Therapist needs to score and interpret the results and consider them alongside your presentation and other available evidence.
Liaising with other people involved in your care
Where appropriate and with your consent, your Occupational Therapist may obtain information from family members, carers, support workers or other treating professionals.
Clinical reasoning and developing recommendations
The Occupational Therapist considers all of the information gathered to identify your functional needs and determine appropriate recommendations.
Writing your FCA report
Finally, this information needs to be brought together into a comprehensive Functional Capacity Assessment report that clearly describes your functional capacity, support needs and recommendations.
So, while you may spend 2–3 hours directly with your Occupational Therapist, this represents only one part of the overall FCA process.
What is included in an Urban Health HQ FCA?
At Urban Health HQ, our Functional Capacity Assessments are designed to provide a comprehensive picture of how you function in everyday life.
Rather than focusing solely on your diagnosis, we look at the practical impact your disability has on the activities you need and want to complete.
Depending on your individual circumstances, your FCA may consider areas including:
- personal care and activities of daily living
- domestic activities
- mobility and transfers
- communication
- cognition and executive functioning
- social interaction
- emotional regulation
- community access
- transport
- work, study or volunteering
- current informal and formal supports
- assistive technology
- home and living needs
- safety and risk
- support required to work towards your goals.
Your Occupational Therapist will then bring this information together in a detailed report, including clinically reasoned recommendations relevant to your functional needs.
Our aim is to provide a report that is individualised, evidence-based and easy to understand, while clearly explaining the relationship between your disability, your functional capacity and the supports being recommended.
Can the NDIS pay for a Functional Capacity Assessment?
A Functional Capacity Assessment may be funded through an NDIS plan where appropriate funding is available and the assessment relates to the participant’s disability support needs.
Funding arrangements can vary between participants, so it is important to check your individual plan and available funding before commencing an FCA.
If you’re unsure whether your current funding can be used for an FCA, you can contact Urban Health HQ before booking and we can discuss the service with you. You may also wish to confirm the funding with your Support Coordinator, Plan Manager or the NDIA where appropriate.
Does report writing cost extra?
Report writing forms part of the overall Functional Capacity Assessment process.
This is important because an FCA is not simply a face-to-face OT assessment followed by a free report.
The Occupational Therapy time required to analyse your assessment findings, complete clinical reasoning, develop recommendations and prepare the final report is professional time associated with completing the FCA.
At Urban Health HQ, we aim to make the expected costs clear before commencing so you understand that both the assessment and reporting components contribute to the overall cost.
Will I know the cost before the assessment starts?
We understand that knowing the expected cost of an FCA is important, particularly when you are managing an NDIS budget.
Before commencing your assessment, we can explain the anticipated process, the Occupational Therapy rate and the approximate amount of professional time expected to be required.
In some cases, the exact amount of time needed may become clearer once the Occupational Therapist has reviewed your circumstances and understands the complexity of the assessment.
If additional work outside the anticipated scope is required, this should be discussed with you rather than coming as an unexpected cost.
Does travel cost extra?
Travel may be charged where an Occupational Therapist is required to travel to complete your assessment, in accordance with the applicable funding arrangements and service agreement.
Whether travel is required will depend on where the assessment takes place and your individual circumstances.
Urban Health HQ is based in Ellenbrook, Western Australia, and provides Functional Capacity Assessments for NDIS participants across Perth.
When you enquire, we can discuss the most appropriate assessment location and let you know whether travel charges are likely to apply.
How long does the FCA process take?
At Urban Health HQ, the face-to-face component of a Functional Capacity Assessment will generally take approximately 2–3 hours.
Following the assessment, your Occupational Therapist needs time to review the information collected, score and interpret relevant assessments, complete clinical reasoning and prepare your report.
Our FCA reports are generally completed within approximately 2–4 weeks following completion of the required assessment and receipt of the information needed to prepare the report.
Timeframes can vary depending on the complexity of the assessment, whether additional information is required and the Occupational Therapist’s current caseload.
If you require an FCA for an upcoming NDIS plan reassessment or another specific deadline, we recommend letting us know when you first enquire.
What Happens During a Functional Capacity Assessment?
If you are considering an FCA, understanding the process beforehand can make the assessment feel much less daunting.
We’ve put together a separate guide explaining what happens before, during and after your appointment, including the types of questions and assessments that may be involved.
Read next: What Happens During a Functional Capacity Assessment?
Need a Functional Capacity Assessment in Perth?
Urban Health HQ provides Functional Capacity Assessments for NDIS participants across Perth, with our clinic based in Ellenbrook.
Our Occupational Therapists take the time to understand not only your diagnosis, but how your disability affects your everyday life, independence, participation and support needs.
If you have been asked to organise an FCA, have an upcoming NDIS plan reassessment or simply want to find out whether a Functional Capacity Assessment may be appropriate, you can contact our team to discuss your circumstances.
Enquire about a Functional Capacity Assessment with Urban Health HQ today.
