• Practices must register by Tuesday 31st January to receive the first payment - payments will not be backdated
• Registration with the PIP incentive does not roll over - your practice must register for the PNIP

There are two weeks left to register for the Practice Nurse Incentive Program (PNIP) and ensure your practice receives the first payment in February 2012.

Since 1st January 2012, practices can apply for the PNIP and manage their practice’s information through a convenient online system — PNIP Online — accessible via Health Professional Online Services (HPOS).

Hardcopy application forms are available on Medicare’s website to download and fill in. These applications will be assessed from 1st January 2012.

PNIP payments for eligible practices will be made in February, May, August and November each year. The first payment in February 2012 will cover the one month of January.

What do I need to do?

Practices need to apply, even if your practice is currently part of the PIP Practice Nurse Incentive.

Practices can give consent for your PIP data to be used for the PNIP in your application. The PIP data will be used to determine the Standardised Whole Patient Equivalent (SWPE) value for the practice. Non-PIP practices or practices that do not provide their consent to use PIP data for the PNIP will be given a start up SWPE allocation of 1000.

PNIP — how much are you entitled to?

You can get an estimate of the incentive amount your practice may be entitled to by using the PNIP Incentive Ready Reckoner online at www.medicare.gov.au then For health professionals > Incentives and Allowances > Practice Nurse Incentive Program.

Important dates:

1 January 2012
PNIP starts
PNIP Online opens: apply for payments and manage practice information online

31 January 2012
Registration deadline for first payment

February 2012
Final PIP PNI payment made to eligible practices for 1st November to 31st December 2011
First PNIP payment made for eligible practices for the month of January 2012