General Practice Immunisation Incentives (GPII) scheme
About the GPII scheme
The GPII scheme provides financial incentives to GPs that monitor, promote and provide immunisation services to children under the age of seven years.
The overall aim of the GPII scheme is to encourage at least 90 per cent of practices to achieve 90 per cent proportions of full immunisation.The milestone has been met since May 2003.
The GPII scheme is made up of the following components:
- An Outcomes Payment—paid to practices that achieve 90 per cent or greater proportions of full immunisation providing the practice attains 10 WPEs (Whole Patient Equivalents)
- Immunisation infrastructure funding—provides funding for Divisions of General Practice, state-based organisations and Immunisation Coordinators to improve the proportion of children who are immunised at local, state and national levels.
Why was the GPII scheme developed
Reducing the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases is one of the significant public health achievements in the last 100 years. Comprehensive levels of vaccination have led to dramatic decreases in childhood diseases such as poliomyelitis and diphtheria.
When the GPII scheme was implemented, it was considered that the number of children in Australia who were fully immunised was too low to prevent transmission of some vaccine-preventable diseases. For many children this resulted in sickness, hospitalisation, and sometimes death. Those who are not immunised, or not fully immunised, have a much higher chance of infection which can lead to disease outbreaks and epidemics.
The importance of general practice
GPs are one of the key groups able to improve Australia's childhood immunisation levels as they have significant contact with the target group—children under the age of seven.
Each consultation is an opportunity to monitor a child’s immunisation status and provide immunisation services if required.
The GPII incentives aim to improve the national immunisation level by encouraging GPs to actively promote immunisation, as well as provide immunisations themselves.
The role of the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR)
The ACIR is central to the effectiveness of the GPII scheme. The ACIR records details of immunisations provided to children under seven years of age.
ACIR information is used to determine the immunisation status of children and accordingly, the amounts paid under the GPII scheme. It is important that GPs provide timely and accurate information to the ACIR to make sure that immunisation history statements sent to parents are up-to-date and parents remain eligibile to claim the Child Care Benefit and Maternity Immunisation Allowance family assistance payments.
Management and consultation
The GPII scheme is administered by the Department of Health and Ageing, with day-to-day management by Medicare Australia. Development and implementation of the GPII scheme followed a consultative process.
Applying for the GPII scheme
The same application form is used for both the GPII scheme and the Practice Incentive Program (PIP). However applicants can use the form to apply for the GPII scheme only. To get an application form, call the PIP enquiry line on 1800 222 032.
Send completed application forms to:
Practice Incentives Program
GPO Box 2572
ADELAIDE SA 5001
Or fax to: 08 8274 9352
Practices can submit changes to practice profile details by fax to 08 8274 9352. Faxes advising of changes to practice profile or bank account details must be sent on practice letterhead, signed by the nominated authorised contact person and witnessed by another member of the practice. Practices using the fax option are not required to send the original document to Medicare Australia but should retain it for their own records and Medicare Australia audit purposes.
In the event that the original copy of the document cannot be produced, the faxed copy by Medicare Australia will be recognised as the original document.
The GPII Service Incentive Payment (SIP)
In the 2008-09 Budget, the Australian Government announced that one of the components of the GPII Scheme, the GPII Service Incentive Payment (SIP), would stop from 1 October 2008. The SIP will continue to be paid for vaccination services performed by 30 September 2008, provided the notification of a completed schedule is received by the ACIR before 9 January 2009.
More information
For more information about the GPII scheme, call the GPII enquiry line on 1800 246 101.
Last updated: 17 September, 2008