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Aged Care Access Initiative

The Aged Care Access Initiative (ACAI) commenced on 1 July 2008, replacing the Aged Care GP Panels Initiative.

The ACAI was introduced to improve primary care service provision for older Australians in Commonwealth-funded Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) and Multi-purpose Services (MPSs). It has two components:

• incentive payments to GPs to encourage them to provide increased and continuing services in Commonwealth funded RACFs and MPSs; and
• funding for the provision of allied health services to those residents.

GP incentive payment
The GP incentive payment operates through the Practice Incentives Program (PIP) and is designed to encourage GPs to provide more services in RACFs and MPSs. The PIP payments are administered through Medicare Australia.

The guidelines for the GP incentive component are available at: http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/incentives/pip/files/gp-aged-care-access-incentive-guidelines.pdf

Allied health component
The allied health component provides funding for the provision of allied health services to low-care residents of Commonwealth funded RACFs or MPSs, where these services are not currently covered by Medicare or other government funding arrangements. This component is managed by State Based Organisations (SBOs) of the Divisions of General Practice Network in each state and territory. SBOs may purchase allied health services directly or through contractual arrangements with Divisions of General Practice.

2011 Program Guidelines for the Aged Care Access Initiative Allied Health Component (PDF 59 KB)

What's different from previous guidelines (PDF 12 KB)