About the initiative
The Practice Incentives Program – Indigenous Health Incentive (PIP IHI) encourages health services to meet the health care needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a chronic disease. Health services include general practices, Aboriginal Medical Services and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.
Why it is important
Chronic disease is responsible for 70% of the health gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians. The PIP IHI seeks to address this gap with better chronic disease management for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Goals
The PIP IHI’s goals are to:
- improve the health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- encourage practices to prevent, identify and manage chronic disease.
Meeting our goals
The PIP IHI meets its goals by providing incentive payments to health services. The incentives help services to deliver high quality, comprehensive primary health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with a chronic disease.
Who we work with
The PIP IHI is one of several incentives administered by Services Australia on our behalf. Read more about these incentives.
Consultation and review
We consulted stakeholders in 2018 and 2019 to identify ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the PIP IHI. The consultation process included:
- a series of forums involving 68 stakeholders
- 26 written submissions from peak bodies and other health service providers.
Following the review, the Australian Government announced changes to the PIP IHI as part of the 2021–22 Budget. These changes are designed better incentivise continuity of care and improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a chronic disease or mental health condition. They will also expand eligibility to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people under the age of 15 and streamline administrative requirements.
Practice Incentives Program – Indigenous Health Incentive guidelines
The Practice Incentives Program – Indigenous Health Incentive guidelines have now been updated to reflect the changes from 1 January 2023.
Learn more
Our printable fact sheet has more details about the changes to the PIP IHI.
Changes to the Practice Incentives Program – Indigenous Health Incentive
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