The Australian health system provides dysphagia support services that are available to everyone, whether or not they have a disability.
Government and community services must make sure all Australians, including people with disability, have access to their supports. We call these supports mainstream and community supports. The NDIS was set up to work alongside government and community services, not replace them.
Learn more about Mainstream and community supports.
What help can you get through Medicare?
Medicare helps all Australians with the costs of their health care. Medicare will help pay for services to test and diagnose health conditions, such as dysphagia.
You may also be able to get short term access to a speech pathologist through Medicare. If your dysphagia gets worse, your speech pathologist or doctor will arrange for you to have tests. The health system is responsible for this. The tests will help to work out what treatment you might need, including if you need to go to hospital. For example, if you develop pneumonia because of dysphagia.
The health system will fund these tests and your supports while you’re in hospital.
If you don’t have dysphagia, but are at risk of developing it, your doctor or allied health professional will keep an eye on that. If they think you may have dysphagia, they’ll send you for tests in the health system to confirm this.
If you, or the people that help you, notice any changes in your ability to swallow, you should tell your doctor or speech pathologist.
Learn more about Medicare .
What can you get through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme?
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) funds some products you may use for dysphagia, including nutritional drinks and supplements.
We may also fund nutritional supports related to your disability, if they’re an NDIS support for you.
Learn more about the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme .
You might also like to look at Our Guideline – Nutrition supports including meal preparation.