Speech pathology fees

Changes to the TAC speech pathology fee schedule

On 1 November 2026, we are updating the TAC speech pathology fee schedule and increasing published fees by up to 64%.

These changes aim to improve the client experience by reducing gap payments and any potential delays in accessing treatment.

The new TAC fee schedule for speech pathology should be used for services delivered on and after 1 November 2026. Please use the 1/7/2026 - 31/10/2026 fee schedule for services delivered prior to this date.

The updated fee schedule includes:

  • A new service and item number for attendance at a TAC team meeting where the client is present.
  • A new service and item number for an assessment and report.
  • Service descriptions linked to each item number to support accurate billing.
  • Fees aligned to reasonable market rates.

Information about the new services and items can be found in the speech pathology policy on our website.

Existing item numbers within the current fee schedule will be retained. Please continue to use these same numbers with updated rates. New item numbers have been added for new services.

What providers need to do

Please update your billing systems to reflect the new item numbers and rates.

These item numbers and rates must be used for all services delivered to TAC clients on and after 1 November 2026. The easiest way to do this is via the HICAPS digital platform, which will be updated to reflect the new fee schedule.

Services delivered prior to 1 November 2026 can still be manually billed for up to two years.

More information about invoicing the TAC is available on our website.

There are no changes to the TAC service approval process, and this change does not impact any other TAC services or benefits.

How to ask questions

We’re here to help. If you have questions about the new fee schedule, please contact sectors@tac.vic.gov.au

Effective 1 November 2026

Speech pathology services can be invoiced online via HICAPS Digital for next business day payments.

Future fees

Service Description and Requirements

GST
*

TAC Item Number

Maximum Payment Rate

Consultation

Individual Speech Pathology Consultation

 

ST604

$200.14

Individual Speech Pathology Consultation via Telehealth

 

ST604T

$200.14

Maximum payment rate is per hour, to be billed in 15-minute increments with an expected duration of up to 1 hour.

  • Assessment, treatment, monitoring, and review of communication and/or swallowing function.
  • Development and implementation of individualised therapy strategies and goals.
  • Evidence-based, client-centred intervention.
  • May include training in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems and equipment.
  • May include development of mealtime plans and training to support safe eating and drinking.
  • Education, training, and support for clients, families, carers, and support persons.

Group Consultation

 

ST601

$90.00

Maximum payment rate is per person, per hour and is to be billed in 15-minute increments with an expected duration of up to 1 hour.

  • Group sessions to improve or maintain speech and/or language communication skills.
  • Evidence based, client centred therapy delivered through structured activities, peer interaction and guided therapeutic practice.
  • A minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 clients in a group
  • Presence of the speech pathologist for the entire session
  • Completion of clinical notes for all patients

Travel for consultations

Travel in association with individual or group consultations

 

ST630

$200.14

As approved - maximum payment rate is per hour to be billed in 15-minute increments.

  • Speech Pathologist travel will only be considered when the client is medically unfit to travel or where treatment in the client's functional environment is clinically justified.

Completion of Speech Pathology Treatment Plan or Management Review

Completion of Treatment Notification Plan (SPTNP) or Management Review (SPMR) - Providers registered for GST

*

ST640

$85.87

Completion of Treatment Notification Plan (SPTNP) or Management Review (SPMR) - Providers not registered for GST

 

ST640F

$78.06

Attendance at a TAC team meeting 

Attendance at a TAC team meeting - Providers registered for GST

*

ST650

$220.15

Attendance at a TAC team meeting - Providers not registered for GST

 

ST650F

$200.14

As approved - maximum payment rate is per hour to be billed in 15 increments.

  • Meeting attendance, at the request of the TAC where the TAC client is present.

Assessment and Report

Assessment and Report - Providers registered for GST

*

ST660

$220.15

Assessment and Report - Providers not registered for GST

 

ST660F

$200.14

As approved - maximum payment rate is per hour to be billed in 15-minute increments. Assessment and the report that follows at the request of the TAC including but not limited to:

  • Assistive Technology: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Devices
  • Swallowing Assessments and development of mealtime plans
  • Communication Assessment – including Assessment of speech and or language

Travel for attendance at TAC team meeting, assessment and reports

Travel - Team meeting, Assessment and reports - Providers registered for GST

*

ST670

$220.15

Travel - Team meeting, Assessment and reports - Providers not registered for GST

 

ST670F

$200.14

As approved - maximum payment rate is per hour to be billed in 15-minute increments.

From 1/11/2026

Service Description and Requirements

GST
*

TAC Item Number

Maximum Payment Rate

Consultation

Individual Speech Pathology Consultation

 

ST604

$200.14

Individual Speech Pathology Consultation via Telehealth

 

ST604T

$200.14

Maximum payment rate is per hour, to be billed in 15-minute increments with an expected duration of up to 1 hour.

  • Assessment, treatment, monitoring, and review of communication and/or swallowing function.
  • Development and implementation of individualised therapy strategies and goals.
  • Evidence-based, client-centred intervention.
  • May include training in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems and equipment.
  • May include development of mealtime plans and training to support safe eating and drinking.
  • Education, training, and support for clients, families, carers, and support persons.

Group Consultation

 

ST601

$90.00

Maximum payment rate is per person, per hour and is to be billed in 15-minute increments with an expected duration of up to 1 hour.

  • Group sessions to improve or maintain speech and/or language communication skills.
  • Evidence based, client centred therapy delivered through structured activities, peer interaction and guided therapeutic practice.
  • A minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 clients in a group
  • Presence of the speech pathologist for the entire session
  • Completion of clinical notes for all patients

Travel for consultations

Travel in association with individual or group consultations

 

ST630

$200.14

As approved - maximum payment rate is per hour to be billed in 15-minute increments.

  • Speech Pathologist travel will only be considered when the client is medically unfit to travel or where treatment in the client's functional environment is clinically justified.

Completion of Speech Pathology Treatment Plan or Management Review

Completion of Treatment Notification Plan (SPTNP) or Management Review (SPMR) - Providers registered for GST

*

ST640

$85.87

Completion of Treatment Notification Plan (SPTNP) or Management Review (SPMR) - Providers not registered for GST

 

ST640F

$78.06

Attendance at a TAC team meeting 

Attendance at a TAC team meeting - Providers registered for GST

*

ST650

$220.15

Attendance at a TAC team meeting - Providers not registered for GST

 

ST650F

$200.14

As approved - maximum payment rate is per hour to be billed in 15 increments.

  • Meeting attendance, at the request of the TAC where the TAC client is present.

Assessment and Report

Assessment and Report - Providers registered for GST

*

ST660

$220.15

Assessment and Report - Providers not registered for GST

 

ST660F

$200.14

As approved - maximum payment rate is per hour to be billed in 15-minute increments. Assessment and the report that follows at the request of the TAC including but not limited to:

  • Assistive Technology: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Devices
  • Swallowing Assessments and development of mealtime plans
  • Communication Assessment – including Assessment of speech and or language

Travel for attendance at TAC team meeting, assessment and reports

Travel - Team meeting, Assessment and reports - Providers registered for GST

*

ST670

$220.15

Travel - Team meeting, Assessment and reports - Providers not registered for GST

 

ST670F

$200.14

As approved - maximum payment rate is per hour to be billed in 15-minute increments.

Service and Approval Requirements

Approval Requirements

Individual and Group Consultations

Travel for Consultations

  • Within the first 90 days and where the criteria mentioned in the descriptor are applicable, ​there is no need to contact the TAC for approval first. ​
  • After the initial 90-day period approval to provide travel must be requested via the treatment plans or as otherwise agreed with the Claims Manager and must be approved before travel is provided.
  • Not for travel between clinics operated by the same operator​
  • Travel to be divided between clients where applicable

Completion of a Treatment Plan 

  • Approval is not required but should not exceed required frequency.

Attendance at a TAC Team Meeting or Assessment and Report

  • At the request of TAC.

Please refer to the Speech Pathology Policy for further detail

Current and previous fees

For speech pathology services provided between 1 July 2026 and 30 October 2026
Service DescriptionGST
*		TAC Item NumberMaximum Payment Rate
Individual Treatment
Completion and submission of Treatment Notification Plan (SPTNP)  ST600 $67.11
Hourly Rate   ST604 $121.68
Hourly Rate - Telehealth ST604T$121.68
Group Treatment
Group Consultation (per person, per hour)   ST601 $73.08
Travel (with prior approval)
Travel   ST630 $121.68
Travel time can be claimed only for travel to and from the practitioner's practice address and the TAC client's residence.  Where more than one client is visited in a single travel period, total travel costs should be apportioned equally between those clients to whom services have been provided.
^All travel is to be separately billed in blocks of 15 minutes.
Speech Pathology Management Review (SPMR)
Completion and submission of the SPMR form (only on request by TAC) - Providers registered for GST* ST640 $67.11
Completion and submission of the SPMR form (only on request by TAC) - Providers not registered for GST ST640F$61.00

1/7/2026 - 31/10/2026 fees

For speech pathology services provided between 1 July 2026 and 30 October 2026
Service DescriptionGST
*		TAC Item NumberMaximum Payment Rate
Individual Treatment
Completion and submission of Treatment Notification Plan (SPTNP)  ST600 $67.11
Hourly Rate   ST604 $121.68
Hourly Rate - Telehealth ST604T$121.68
Group Treatment
Group Consultation (per person, per hour)   ST601 $73.08
Travel (with prior approval)
Travel   ST630 $121.68
Travel time can be claimed only for travel to and from the practitioner's practice address and the TAC client's residence.  Where more than one client is visited in a single travel period, total travel costs should be apportioned equally between those clients to whom services have been provided.
^All travel is to be separately billed in blocks of 15 minutes.
Speech Pathology Management Review (SPMR)
Completion and submission of the SPMR form (only on request by TAC) - Providers registered for GST* ST640 $67.11
Completion and submission of the SPMR form (only on request by TAC) - Providers not registered for GST ST640F$61.00
For speech pathology services provided between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026
Service DescriptionGST
*		TAC Item NumberMaximum Payment Rate
Individual Treatment
Completion and submission of Treatment Notification Plan (SPTNP)   ST600 $65.05
Hourly Rate   ST604 $117.95
Hourly Rate - Telehealth ST604T$117.95
Group Treatment
Group Consultation (per person, per hour)   ST601 $70.84
Travel (with prior approval)
Travel   ST630 $117.95
Travel time can be claimed only for travel to and from the practitioner's practice address and the TAC client's residence.  Where more than one client is visited in a single travel period, total travel costs should be apportioned equally between those clients to whom services have been provided.
^All travel is to be separately billed in blocks of 15 minutes.
Speech Pathology Management Review (SPMR)
Completion and submission of the SPMR form (only on request by TAC) - Providers registered  for GST* ST640 $65.05
Completion and submission of the SPMR form (only on request by TAC) - Providers not registered  for GST ST640F$59.13

1/7/2025 - 30/6/2026 fees

For speech pathology services provided between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026
Service DescriptionGST
*		TAC Item NumberMaximum Payment Rate
Individual Treatment
Completion and submission of Treatment Notification Plan (SPTNP)   ST600 $65.05
Hourly Rate   ST604 $117.95
Hourly Rate - Telehealth ST604T$117.95
Group Treatment
Group Consultation (per person, per hour)   ST601 $70.84
Travel (with prior approval)
Travel   ST630 $117.95
Travel time can be claimed only for travel to and from the practitioner's practice address and the TAC client's residence.  Where more than one client is visited in a single travel period, total travel costs should be apportioned equally between those clients to whom services have been provided.
^All travel is to be separately billed in blocks of 15 minutes.
Speech Pathology Management Review (SPMR)
Completion and submission of the SPMR form (only on request by TAC) - Providers registered  for GST* ST640 $65.05
Completion and submission of the SPMR form (only on request by TAC) - Providers not registered  for GST ST640F$59.13

*Please note:

Items denoted with an asterisk (*) are services which the TAC deems to be a taxable supply. 
These item codes and maximum payment rates are to be used by providers who are registered for GST.  
The accompanying maximum payment rate includes GST (10%). 
For further information about GST, please contact the Australian Taxation Office and/or your tax advisor.

This Payment Limit relates to the following services