PIP Aged Care Access Incentive retained for now
Recently, the AMA advised that the implementation the PIP Quality Improvement (QI) Incentive will now be delayed one year until 1 May 2019. The retention of the Aged Care Access Incentive for another year is welcome news for those eligible practitioners providing services to patients in residential aged care facilities.
The changed time frame will mean that the following five incentives which were to cease on 1 May 2018 will continue through to 30 April 2019.
The five incentives are:
- Asthma Incentive
- Quality Prescribing Incentive
- Cervical Screening Incentive
- Diabetes Incentive, and
- General Practitioner Aged Care Access Incentive.
The six PIP Incentives that will remain unchanged are:
- eHealth Incentive
- After Hours Incentive
- Rural Loading Incentive
- Teaching Payment
- Indigenous Health Incentive, and
- Procedural General Practitioner Payment.
The Practice Incentive Program (PIP) is a key driver to quality care in the general practice sector. PIP is aimed at supporting general practice activities that encourage improvements in quality care, enhance capacity and improve access and health outcomes for patients.
While the 12 month delay is welcome, it still does not overcome the fundamental implementation problem facing the PIPQI – a lack of adequate funding.
The AMA will continue to press the Government on this issue, including in relation to the loss of valuable incentives like the Aged Care Access Incentive.
