General practices will have an increasingly important role in closing the gap in health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through a range of measures which target their high incidence of chronic disease.

How will my patients and my practice benefit?

A new Practice Incentive Payment (PIP) Indigenous Health Incentive will be introduced from 1 May 2010. It aims to support general practices and Aboriginal Medical Services to provide best practice chronic disease management to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. The PIP is based around three key components:

• SIGN-ON PAYMENT A one-off payment of $1000 to general practices and Aboriginal health services that agree to undertake certain activities to improve care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients

PATIENT REGISTRATION PAYMENT An annual payment to general practices and Aboriginal health services of $250 for each eligible patient registered with the practice for chronic disease management

• OUTCOMES PAYMENT Annual payments to general practices and Aboriginal health services of up to $250 for each eligible patient for whom a target level of care is provided by the practice.
  
  

Is my practice eligible?

To take part in the incentive your practice will need to be participating in the PIP – or eligible to join the PIP – and meet the specific sign-on requirements. To receive the sign-on payment practices must agree to:

• Seek consent to register their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients who have, or are at risk of chronic disease with Medicare Australia in order to access support through Indigenous Chronic Disease package measures
• Establish a mechanism to make sure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients aged 15 and over with a chronic disease are followed up
• Undertake cultural awareness training within 12 months of joining the incentive
• Annotate PBS prescriptions of eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients for the purposes of the Indigenous Chronic Disease package PBS co-payment Measure from 1 July 2010.
  
  

More information?

Please telephone our Indigenous Project Officer Robin Vote at the SGPN Goulburn office on 02 4821 0436 if you require additional information.

The guidelines for the PIP Indigenous Health Incentive are available, alongside other relevant documents, from the Medicare Australia website.

Closing the Gap Resources

•  Indigenous PIP FAQ 
•  Indigenous health incentive factsheet   
• Indigenous PBS factsheet
• Moreton Bay General Practice Network has developed an Indigenous PIP Calculator they are happy to share. Click here to find it.