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PIP eHealth Incentive

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PIP eHealth Incentive

 
The PIP eHealth incentive aims to encourage general practices to adopt new eHealth technology as it becomes available, to assist practices in improving administration processes and the quality of care provided to patients. To participate in the Practice Incentive Program (PIP), practices must be accredited or registered for accreditation against the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Standards for general practices.
As technology continues to emerge, practices will be able to securely exchange information such as discharge summaries, pathology reports and specialist reports electronically; send electronic referrals and pathology orders and participate in prescribing electronically. Patient information sent and received electronically will also be able to be added directly into patient’s electronic health record.
 
Eligible practices are encouraged to apply for the eHealth PIP as soon as practicable.
 
The key components and critical dates to be eligible for the first quarterly instalment are:
■            Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and e-Resources
■            Secure Messaging
 
Payments and requirements
 
The PIP eHealth Incentive payments are calculated at $6.50 per SWPE per year. Payments are capped at $12,500 per quarter. Payments are made by Medicare Australia to eligible practices as part of each quarterly PIP Payment. To be eligible for the PIP eHealth Incentive the Practices must:
 
  1. Have a secure messaging capability, which is provided by eligible provider.
  2. Have or have applied for a location/site Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) certificate for the practice and each practice branch, and ensure that each individual general practitioner has or has applied for an individual PKI certificate.
  3. Provide general practitioners from the practice with access to a range of key electronic clinical resources.
 
1. Secure messaging
 
The immediate issue is to ensure that practices are eligible for eHealth PIP. Obtaining a secure messaging is one of the required components. The Division is working towards a common secure messaging system, as the secure messaging in only worthwhile if you have others to talk to with it.
 
When choosing your secure messaging system, remember it must be approved by NeHTA (National E-Health Transition Authority). The first list of eligible suppliers has been posted on the NeHTA website www.nehta.gov.au/pip-vendors. The listing is updated continuously.
 
 
 
2. What is PKI?
 
Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a combination of policies, procedures and technology allowing you to transfer information and images between computers safely and securely. With PKI, you can securely send a file to someone, and know he or she is the only one who can open it. You can also receive a file, confident it has been sent to you securely.
 
PKI location/site and individual certificates are used for different purposes. A PKI location/site certificate can be used by the practice for activities such as billing. Individual certificates will be required to allow doctors to electronically send referrals, participate in electronic prescribing and electronic pathology ordering as soon as these tools are available. 
 
Medicare Australia is currently sponsoring free PKI certification for all health care providers. Please contact the enquiry line on 1800 700 199 (select option 3).
 
3. Electronic Clinical Resources
 
To satisfy this requirement the GPs must have current resources available on the computer desktop in consulting room either on the hard drive, CD-ROM, or as direct link to a website of at least One (1) key electronic clinical resource from each of the following three key categories:
 

■            Evidence-based guide to common disorders
(e.g. e-Therapeutic Guidelines Complete)

■            Formulary of medicines available in Australia
(e.g. Australian Medicines Handbook)

■            Evidence-based guide to preventative activities in general practice
(e.g. Red Book)

And at least Three (3) resources from any of the following other categories:

■            Journal of evidence-based clinical care
(e.g. Bandolier)

■            Clinical resources (latest editions)
(e.g. The Australian Immunisation Handbook)

■            Regulatory resources (latest editions)
(e.g. Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) )

 
(Six resources in total.) Practitioners from the practice must be able to explain how they access and use the key electronic clinical resources.
 
It is up to the Practice to ensure they have the most up-to-date information available. Where possible practices may wish to check with their software supplier, the publisher of the electronic document, or the relevant organisation such as RACGP what the most current edition of a given resource is.
 
As no lists of every eligible electronic clinical resource exist, it is the practices to determine which electronic clinical resources meet the specific eligibility criteria of the eHealth Incentive and the unique needs of their patients and practice setting. For relevant resources and examples, please refer to the PIP eHealth Guidelines.
  
Medicare Forms for PIP eHealth
 
 
 
 
For further information, please contact the Division on
8884 9444
 

Published Date: September 2, 2009
Printed from http://www.hhdgp.com.au/page/Programs/Information_Management_1/Information_Management_1/
© Hawkesbury Hills Division of General Practice

Tel: 02 8884 9444 Fax: 02 8824 7488 Email: info@hhdgp.com.au