On 1 July, 2015, the Commonwealth Government changed the way the provision of After Hours GP services are paid, introducing a tiered incentive system paid direct to general practices.
Under the new program, practices can apply for five payment levels, ranging from $1 to $11, available to eligible practices registered for the PIP. The PIP After Hours incentive is based on a practice’s Standardised Whole Patient Equivalent (SWPE).
All practices are also required to communicate their after hours access arrangement to patients and register the details of their after hours services in the National Health Services Directory.
The five payment levels for the PIP are:
Level 1 Participation Payment - $1 per SWPE: Practices must have formal arrangements in place to ensure that practice patients have access to care in the complete after hours period (hours outside of 8am to 6pm weeknights; hours outside of 8am to 12pm Saturdays; and all day Sundays and public holidays).
Level 2 Sociable After Hours Cooperative Coverage Payment - $4 per SWPE: Practices must participate in a cooperative arrangement with other general practices that provides after hours care to practice patients in the sociable after hours period (6pm to 11pm weeknights), and ensure formal arrangements are in place to cover the unsociable after hours period (11pm to 8am weekdays, hours outside of 8am and 12pm Saturdays and all day Sundays and public holidays).
Level 3 Sociable After Hours Practice Coverage Payment - $5.50 per SWPE: Practices must provide after hours care to practice patients directly through the practice in the sociable after hours period (6pm to 11pm weeknights); and ensure formal arrangements are in place to cover the unsociable after hours period (11pm to 8am weekdays, hours outside of 8am and 12pm Saturdays and all day Sundays and public holidays).
Level 4 Complete After Hours Cooperative Coverage Payment - $5.50 per SWPE: Practices must participate in a cooperative arrangement with other general practices that provides after hours care to practice patients for the complete after hours period (hours outside of 8am to 6pm weeknights; hours outside of 8am to 12pm Saturdays; and all day Sundays and public holidays).
Level 5 Complete After Hours Practice Coverage Payment - $11 per SWPE: To be eligible for the Level 5 Complete After Hours Practice Coverage Payment, practices must provide after hours care to practice patients in the complete after hours period (hours outside of 8am to 6pm weeknights; hours outside of 8am to 12pm Saturdays; and all day Sundays and public holidays).