Practice Incentives Program – Indigenous Health Incentive changes from 1 July 2025
14 Jul 2025
The Australian Government has introduced several changes to the Practice Incentives Program – Indigenous Health Incentive (PIP IHI) to enhance care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with chronic diseases. These changes, implemented progressively since 2023, aim to improve continuity of care and streamline administrative processes for healthcare providers. This article outlines the changes implemented from January and July 2025.
Chronic conditions account for 70% of the total health gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Patient lifetime registration
No more annual patient registration – patients aged 15 years and above who provide consent from 1 January 2025 will have a lifetime registration which will continue until they withdraw their consent.
Finalisation of back-ended payment structure
The previously paid registration payment is eliminated, with the shift to a back-ended payment structure.
Outcome payments
Practices will receive outcome payments after a patient has received a threshold level of care, rather than when a patient is registered.
Tier 1 payment: A payment of $100 for meeting certain criteria
A payment to practices that either:
- prepare and review a GP chronic condition management plan or GP mental health treatment plan for a registered patient within a 12-month assessment period.
- complete two reviews of an existing GP management plan or team care arrangement prior to 1 July 2025, or GP chronic condition management plan (from 1 July 2025), or GP mental health treatment plan for a registered patient or contribute to a review of a multidisciplinary care plan for a patient in a residential aged care home within a 12-month assessment period.
Tier 2 payment: GPs receive an increase in payment to $300 for providing a higher level of care
A payment to practices which provide a target level of care for a registered patient within a 12-month assessment period.
No change to practice PIP IHI sign-on payment
The one-off $1,000 payment for practices registering for PIP IHI remains unchanged.
Training for PIP IHI eligibility
When two staff members, one being a GP, undertake RACGP cultural awareness training, the practice is eligible to apply for the PIP Indigenous Practice Incentive. Training blocks to RACGP CPD-accredited online modules are available at no cost to practices through SWSPHN.
Read more about SWSPHN-funded cultural awareness training
For comprehensive details on these changes, please refer to the official factsheet, available on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website. This factsheet contains a table of the new payments under the PIP Indigenous Health Incentive.
Changes to the Practice Incentives Program – Indigenous Health Incentive
For more information or to coordinate practice visits, contact SWSPHN’s Indigenous Health Project Officer, Georgia Eggert
Phone: 8218 0159
Email: georgia.eggert@swsphn.com.au