Changes to the PIP IM/IT Incentive from November 2006: Potential to impact on practice income
Changes to simplify and improve the Practice Incentives Program (PIP) were announced late last year. One of these changes affects the PIP IM/IT Incentive. The new arrangements were developed in close consultation with the profession on the basis that accurate and complete medical documentation supports good clinical care and enhances communication between health providers to the benefit of both consumers and providers. The revised PIP IM/IT arrangements aim to:
· Encourage practices to implement more secure IT practice systems and electronic patient health records
· Facilitate efficient and widespread information transfer and storage
· Encourage and reward general practices that are implementing strategies towards enhanced use of electronic patient records.
Two levels of activity – Basic and Enhanced – will be recognised under the revised PIP IM/IT Incentive:
Tier 1: Basic
The practice maintains electronic patient records, which include clinical data on allergies/sensitivities for the majority of active patients. In addition, the practice implements appropriate information security measures (e.g. virus protection, firewall, backup and recovery, access control and practice procedures/processes to support/maintain appropriate information security). The practice also uses appropriate security (e.g. encryption systems) when patient information and/or clinical data are transferred electronically.
Tier 2: Enhanced
The practice qualifies for Tier 1 and uses electronic patient records to record and store clinical information on patients, including current and past major diagnoses and current medications for the majority of active patients.
Payments will be made to PIP practices on a quarterly basis with other PIP practice payments. Payments for the new IM/IT tiers will be: Tier 1 $4 per SWPE per annum and Tier 2: $3 per SWPE per annum.
Practices can begin to address information security issues through the Broadband for Health Program, which provides IT security support. The IDGP is developing a package which will be available in two forms: A self help package and an IDGP assisted package. The self help package will provide resources that you can adapt to your practice in order to meet the new requirements. The assisted package will see Troy visit your practice to help your staff to fulfill each requirement of the application form. You will be notified about these packages as they become available.
