The $1,000 sign on payment will be available upon agreement of conditions which include registering Indigenous patients with Medicare Australia, ensuring follow up of patients with chronic disease and undertaking cultural awareness training.

Once signed up, practices will be eligible for an annual ‘registration payment’ of $250 for each Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander patient registered, who has a chronic disease and whose care is ‘actively’ managed using the appropriate health check MBS item.

Practices will be eligible for further payments (per patient) under a two-tiered outcomes payment schedule providing set targets are reached. These targets include establishing GP Management Plans, Team Care Arrangements or multidisciplinary care plans and providing other MBS services to patients.

PIP practices should receive more information from Medicare Australia shortly. Alternatively, phone Medicare on 1800 222 032.

Practices must be accredited or working towards accreditation to be eligible for the PIP program.