PNIP will 'nip' a lot of unfunded services in the bud
Article by Lynne Walker, as published in The Primary Times
Change is always difficult to accept and more often than not people will see the glass is 'half empty' before they realise it's actually 'half full'. This could be said for the Practice Nurse Incentive Program (PNIP), a revised funding package which is about expanding the financial incentives available for a number of nursing services, which previously went way under the nurse funding radar.
To read the full article click here.
PNIP Information Sheet
Click here to download the latest information sheet on the Practice Nurse Incentive Payment and how it changes the role of nurses working in general practice.

PNIP Workshop Timetable 2012
Please see NiGP Events Calendar for details.
PNIP Resources
Printed Resources


The PNIP Resources flyer provides a summary of information and resources available regarding the PNIP changes commencing in January 2012.
APNA has also developed a Business case tools and scenarios booklet to assist each practice to calculate an estimate of the income that nurses generate both before the introduction of the PNIP and after. It will assist practices in understanding the financial implications of the change and help them make best use of the new funding stream.
Creating Opportunities is a booklet outlining the advanced and expanded roles that nurses working in general practice can play. It includes examples of nursing practices that add value to general practices including testimonials from GPs, practice managers and practice nurses.
If you would like to order hard copies for your Division or Medicare Local please email Danielle at: ddalla@agpn.com.au with your postal address and the number you require.
DVD Resource

Short films of the opportunities that the PNIP has created for practices that meet the needs of the patient by utilising the nursing staff can be viewed on the APNA website here.
PNIP Workshop Timetable 2011
Please contact your closest Division or Medicare Local for details of PNIP Workshops in your area.
| ACT |
ACT Medicare Local |
14/11/2011 |
| NSW |
Bankstown General Practice Division |
15/11/2011 |
| NSW |
Blue Mountains Division of General Practice |
21/9/2011 |
| NSW |
Central Coast Division of General Practice |
23/11/2011 |
| NSW |
Dubbo Plains Division of General Practice |
26/11/2011 |
| NSW |
GP Access Hunter Urban |
26/10/2011 |
| NSW |
GP Network Northside |
30/11/2011 |
| NSW |
Hastings Mcleay General Practice Network |
1/12/2011 |
| NSW |
Hunter Rural Division of General Practice |
6/12/2011 |
| NSW |
Illawarra Division of General Practice |
13/10/2011 |
| NSW |
Manly Warringah Division of General Practice |
7/12/2011 |
| NSW |
Mid North Coast Division of General Practice |
30/11/2011 |
| NSW |
Nepean Division of General Practice |
9/11/2011 |
| NSW |
New England Division of General Practice |
16/11/2011 |
| NSW |
North West Slopes Division of General Practice |
18/10/2011 |
| NSW |
Northern Rivers General Practice Network |
29/11/2011 |
| NSW |
Northern Sydney General Practice Network |
15/11/2011 |
| NSW |
NSW Central West Division of General Practice |
7/03/2012 |
| NSW |
NSW Outback Division of General Practice |
31/10/2011 |
| NSW |
Shoalhaven Division of General Practice |
22/11/2011 |
| NSW |
Southern General Practice Network |
23/11/2011 |
| NSW |
Southern Highlands Division of General Practice |
21/11/2011 |
| NSW |
Sutherland Division of General Practice |
6/12/2011 |
| NSW |
Sydney South West GP Link |
9/11/2011 |
| NSW |
Tweed Valley General Practice Network |
17/11/2011 |
| NSW |
WentWest |
29/11/2011 |
| NT |
General Practice Network NT |
7/12/2011 |
| QLD |
Caprionia Division of General Practice |
30/11/2011 |
| QLD |
Central Queensland Rural Division of General Practice |
1/12/2011 |
| QLD |
Far North Queensland Rural Division of General Practice |
8/12/2011 |
| QLD |
GP Connections |
6/12/2011 |
| QLD |
GP Links Wide Bay |
29/11/2011 |
| QLD |
Greater Metro South Brisbane Medicare Local |
29/11/2011 |
| QLD |
Ipswich and West Moreton Division of General Practice |
1/12/2011 |
| QLD |
Metro North Brisbane Medicare Local |
5/12/2011 |
| QLD |
North West QLD Primary Health Care |
26/11/2011 |
| QLD |
RHealth |
7/12/2011 |
| QLD |
Sunshine Coast Division of General Practice |
24/11/2011 |
| QLD |
Townsville Mackay Medicare Local |
13/12/2011 |
| SA |
Adelaide North East Division of General Practice |
10/11/2011 |
| SA |
Barossa Division of General Practice |
14/12/2011 |
| SA |
Central Adelaide HillsMedicare Local |
30/11/2011 |
| SA |
General Practice Network South |
7/12/2011 |
| SA |
Health First Network |
22/11/2011 |
| SA |
Murray mallee General Practice Network |
6/12/2011 |
| SA |
Riverland Division of General Practice |
22/11/2011 |
| TAS |
General Practice North |
15/11/2011 |
| TAS |
General Practice South |
6/12/2011 |
| VIC |
Ballarat & District Division of General Practice |
24/11/2011 |
| VIC |
Central Highlands Division of General Practice |
30/11/2011 |
| VIC |
Central Victoria General Practice Network |
7/12/2011 |
| VIC |
Central West Gippsland Division of General Practice |
15/11/2011 |
| VIC |
East Gippsland Primary Health Alliance |
2/11/2011 |
| VIC |
Eastern Ranges General Practice Association |
22/11/2011 |
| VIC |
General Practice Alliance South Gippsland |
7/12/2011 |
| VIC |
General Practice Association of Geelong |
13/12/2011 |
| VIC |
Goulburn Valley Division of General Practice |
12/12/2011 |
| VIC |
Greater Eastern Primary Health |
22/11/2011 |
| VIC |
Impetus |
8/11/2011 |
| VIC |
Mallee Health Care Network |
1/12/2011 |
| VIC |
Melbourne General Practice Network |
30/11/2011 |
| VIC |
Murray Plains Division of General Practice |
23/11/2011 |
| VIC |
North East Valley Division of General Practice |
21/09/2011 |
| VIC |
North East Victorian Division of General Practice |
13/12/2011 |
| VIC |
Northern Divsion of General Practice |
17/11/2011 |
| VIC |
Otway Division of General Practice |
17/11/2011 |
| VIC |
Peninsula General Practice Network |
15/11/2011 |
| VIC |
Southcity GP Services |
17/11/2011 |
| VIC |
West Victorian Division of General Practice |
22/11/2011 |
| WA |
Boab Health Services |
13/11/2011 |
| WA |
Canning Division of General Practice |
3/11/2011 |
| WA |
Fremantle General Practice Network |
15/11/2011 |
| WA |
General Practice Down South |
19/11/2011 |
| WA |
Great Southern General Practice (Amity Health) |
24/11/2011 |
| WA |
Midwest General Practice Network |
22/11/2011 |
| WA |
Perth North Metro Medicare Local |
17/11/2011 |
| WA |
Perth Primary Care Network |
10/11/2011 |
| WA |
Pilbara Health Network |
7/12/2011 |
| WA |
Rockingham Kwinana Division of General Practice |
9/11/2011 |
| WA |
Wheatbelt General Practice Network |
3/12/2011 |
PNIP Update
Over the next few months AGPN will be disseminating information and resources produced by the Department of Health and Ageing and the Australian Practice Nurses Association which will provide information about the Practice Nurse Incentive Program (PNIP).
The program, which commences in Jan 2012, creates opportunities for nurses, GPs and practices and more information and resources will be available from early September. Resources will include DVDs, publications, business models, on line education and training, webinars and fact sheets and will be available from APNA, AGPN and other professional bodies.
More information on the PNIP is available from www.yourhealth.gov.au
Practice Nurse Incentive Program Guidelines
Practice Nurse Incentive Program Guidelines are now available here.
PNIP Incentive Payment Ready Reckoner
The Department of Health and Ageing and Medicare Australia have developed the ready reckoner below that can be used to estimate the incentive amount a practice may be entitled to.
PNIP Incentive Payment Calculator - Ready Reckoner