❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding incentives for regional GPs, specifically concerning the transition from the Southern Inland Health Initiative (SIHI) to the Country Health Innovation (CHI) program and the arrangements for GP services in specific regional locations. The answer provides details on locations, incentives, and eligibility criteria.
AnsweredQoN 1817Legislative Council
Asked
6 December 2018
Member
Portfolio
Deputy Premier; Minister for Health; Mental Health
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to your media statement on 15 June 2017, in relation to incentives for regional General Practitioner’s (GP) from the Royalties for Regions Southern Inland Health Initiative (SIHI), and I ask: (a) which regional locations are subject to SIHI GP incentives; (b) what are the incentives available at each location; (c) what are the eligibility criteria with respect to each incentive available to regional GP’s; (d) please detail the incentive changes to regional GP’s following the election of the Labor State Government; (e) are any regional locations no longer eligible to receive SIHI incentives following the election of the Labor State Government; (f) with respect to close-on-call and call-out arrangements for GP’s providing services to WA Country Health Service facilities please advise: (i) what are the specific arrangements at each of the following regional locations: (A) Ravensthorpe; (B) Hopetoun; (C) Jerramungup; (D) Lake Grace; and (E) Esperance; (g) what is the annual cost for arrangements at each location (of (A)-(E))?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 March 2019
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Deputy Premier; Minister for Health; Mental Health
Response time
9 days
I am advised that:
(a) Since July 2018 the Southern Inland Health Initiative was replaced with Country Health Innovation program (CHI).
The regional locations subject to financial incentives to eligible General Practitioners, as at March 2019, include:
REGION
HEALTH DISTRICT
TOWN
Midwest
Midwest
Kalbarri, Morawa, Mullewa, Three Springs
Murchison
Cue, Meekatharra, Mount Magnet, Yalgoo
Goldfields
South East Coastal
Esperance, Norseman
Northern Goldfields
Laverton, Leonora
Great Southern
Central Great Southern
Katanning, Gnowangerup, Tambellup, Ravensthorpe
Wheatbelt
Western Wheatbelt
Beverley, Cunderdin, Dalwallinu, Goomalling Northam, Wongan Hills, Wyalkatchem
Eastern Wheatbelt
Bruce Rock, Corrigin, Kununoppin, Merredin, Narembeen, Southern Cross
Southern Wheatbelt
Boddington, Darkin, Williams, Brookton, Kondinin, Kulin, Lake Grace, Narrogin, Pingelly
Coastal Wheatbelt
Moora
South West
Blackwood
Boyup Brook, Bridgetown,
Leeuwin
Margaret River
Wellington
Collie
Leschenault
Harvey
Warren
Manjimup, Northcliffe, Pemberton
(b) The CHI Emergency and Acute Workforce financial incentives include the following key incentives:
As at March 2019, the following incentives are eligible at the following locations:
REGION
LOCATION
AVAILABLE INCENTIVE
Midwest
Kalbarri
Emergency Response Payment, Location Support
Meekatharra
Emergency Response Payment
Mullewa
Aboriginal Community Health Payment
Morawa
Emergency Response Payment
Three Springs
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Mount Magnet/Cue/Yalgoo
Emergency Response Payment
Goldfields
Esperance
Emergency Department Incentive, Procedural Incentive
Laverton
Emergency Response Payment, Location Support, Aboriginal Community Health Payment
Leonora
Emergency Response Payment, Location Support, Aboriginal Community Health Payment
Norseman
Emergency Response Payment, Location Support
Gt Southern
Katanning
Emergency Department Incentive, Aboriginal Community Health Payment
Gnowangerup, Tambellup
Aboriginal Community Health Payment
Ravensthorpe, Hopetoun
Emergency Response Payment, Location Support
Wheatbelt
Beverley, Brookton
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Goomalling
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Lake Grace
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Northam
Emergency Department Incentive
Wongan Hills
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Wyalkatchem
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Corrigin
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Kununoppin
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Merredin
Emergency Department Incentive
Cunderdin
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Bruce Rock
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Narembeen
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Southern Cross
Emergency Response Payment, Location Support
Narrogin
Emergency Department Incentive, Procedural Incentive
Pingelly
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Boddington, Darkin, Williams
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Kondinin/Kulin
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Moora
Emergency Department Incentive
Dalwallinu
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
South West
Boyup Brook
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Manjimup
Emergency Department Incentive, Procedural Incentive
Collie
Emergency Department Incentive, Procedural Incentive
Bridgetown
Emergency Department Incentive, Procedural Incentive
Harvey
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Pemberton/Northcliffe
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Margaret River
Emergency Department Annual Payment
(c)
COUNTRY HEALTH INNOVATION INCENTIVE
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Emergency Department (ED) Incentive
An ED Incentive is available in eligible sites and to GPs who are:
· suitably credentialed for ED clinical scope of practice;
· available to participate and work unsupervised “on the floor” in an ED when rostered and must meet the defined shift criteria;
· available at short notice after hours to attend an ED facility.
The eligibility criteria also covers specific requirements for, the applicant to be a resident within their participating eligible site and for the provision of a community GP within the relevant Health District.
Procedural Incentive
A Procedural Incentive is available in eligible sites, and these sites are targeted based on a strategy to support births in the local site and within the district.
The Procedural Incentive provides an annual Incentive for:
· suitably credentialed GPs with relevant procedural clinical scope of practice credentialing (ie Obstetrics, Anaesthetics, General Surgery)
· participating in procedural rosters) including after hours if applicable
· who are onsite within working hours/weekend days and are available at short notice to attend an ED as required.
The eligibility criteria also covers specific requirements for, the applicant to be a resident within their participating eligible site and for the provision of a community GP within the relevant Health District.
Aboriginal Community Health Incentive
The Aboriginal Community Health Incentive may be available to support care to Aboriginal populations in key towns.
An applicant must provide evidence as to how its service supports WACHS objectives to reduce the burden of disease in Aboriginal people through the provision of Aboriginal Health Care clinics.
Access to the Incentive is determined by need and may vary from time to time as determined by WACHS.
Eligibility criteria also covers specific requirements relating to training in cultural safety, and for a GP to be resident within their participating Health Eligible and provision of a community GP practice within the relevant Health District.
Small Town GP Hospital Incentive
The Small Town GP Hospital Incentive may be available for solo, suitably credentialed GPs in eligible small towns.
This incentive is only available to a solo GP who does not receive other financial incentives under this program.
Eligibility criteria also cover specific requirements for GPs to be resident within their participating Health Eligible and provision of a community GP practice within the relevant Health District.
Location Support Incentive
The Location Support Incentive may be available for GPs in eligible towns where there is a demonstrable need.
Eligibility criteria also cover specific requirements for GPs to be resident within their participating Health Eligible and provision of a community GP practice within the relevant Health District.
(d)
KEY INCENTIVES
INCENTIVE CHANGES EFFECTIVE 1 JULY 2018
1. Emergency Department Incentive
Nil change
2. Procedural Incentive
Nil change
3. Aboriginal Community Health Incentive
Incentive has been reframed to improve targeted sites and transparency of performance reporting.
4. Primary Health Care Payment
Payment has been withdrawn, and objectives subsumed under the Small Town GP Hospital Incentive.
5. Small Town GP Hospital Incentive
Introduction of new payment to incentivise solo GPs to provide targeted support to eligible local hospitals.
6. Attraction and Assistance Incentive
Incentive has been withdrawn
7. Location Support Incentive
Nil Change
(e) There is no change to the locations that are eligible to receive financial incentives with the change in Government however, there has been a rationalisation of incentives offered to ensure appropriate care is provided where there is demonstrable need.
(f)
(i)
(A) & (B): Support to Hopetoun is packaged with Ravensthorpe
(C): Nil.
(D): One Small Town GP Hospital Payment is available.
(E):
(g) The following projected annual costs are currently confirmed for each stated location including:
LOCATION
ANNUAL COSTS
A) Ravensthorpe and B) Hopetoun
$30,000
C) Jerramungup
$0
D) Lake Grace
$26,080
E) Esperance
$997,500
(a) Since July 2018 the Southern Inland Health Initiative was replaced with Country Health Innovation program (CHI).
The regional locations subject to financial incentives to eligible General Practitioners, as at March 2019, include:
REGION
HEALTH DISTRICT
TOWN
Midwest
Midwest
Kalbarri, Morawa, Mullewa, Three Springs
Murchison
Cue, Meekatharra, Mount Magnet, Yalgoo
Goldfields
South East Coastal
Esperance, Norseman
Northern Goldfields
Laverton, Leonora
Great Southern
Central Great Southern
Katanning, Gnowangerup, Tambellup, Ravensthorpe
Wheatbelt
Western Wheatbelt
Beverley, Cunderdin, Dalwallinu, Goomalling Northam, Wongan Hills, Wyalkatchem
Eastern Wheatbelt
Bruce Rock, Corrigin, Kununoppin, Merredin, Narembeen, Southern Cross
Southern Wheatbelt
Boddington, Darkin, Williams, Brookton, Kondinin, Kulin, Lake Grace, Narrogin, Pingelly
Coastal Wheatbelt
Moora
South West
Blackwood
Boyup Brook, Bridgetown,
Leeuwin
Margaret River
Wellington
Collie
Leschenault
Harvey
Warren
Manjimup, Northcliffe, Pemberton
(b) The CHI Emergency and Acute Workforce financial incentives include the following key incentives:
As at March 2019, the following incentives are eligible at the following locations:
REGION
LOCATION
AVAILABLE INCENTIVE
Midwest
Kalbarri
Emergency Response Payment, Location Support
Meekatharra
Emergency Response Payment
Mullewa
Aboriginal Community Health Payment
Morawa
Emergency Response Payment
Three Springs
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Mount Magnet/Cue/Yalgoo
Emergency Response Payment
Goldfields
Esperance
Emergency Department Incentive, Procedural Incentive
Laverton
Emergency Response Payment, Location Support, Aboriginal Community Health Payment
Leonora
Emergency Response Payment, Location Support, Aboriginal Community Health Payment
Norseman
Emergency Response Payment, Location Support
Gt Southern
Katanning
Emergency Department Incentive, Aboriginal Community Health Payment
Gnowangerup, Tambellup
Aboriginal Community Health Payment
Ravensthorpe, Hopetoun
Emergency Response Payment, Location Support
Wheatbelt
Beverley, Brookton
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Goomalling
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Lake Grace
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Northam
Emergency Department Incentive
Wongan Hills
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Wyalkatchem
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Corrigin
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Kununoppin
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Merredin
Emergency Department Incentive
Cunderdin
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Bruce Rock
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Narembeen
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Southern Cross
Emergency Response Payment, Location Support
Narrogin
Emergency Department Incentive, Procedural Incentive
Pingelly
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Boddington, Darkin, Williams
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Kondinin/Kulin
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Moora
Emergency Department Incentive
Dalwallinu
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
South West
Boyup Brook
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Manjimup
Emergency Department Incentive, Procedural Incentive
Collie
Emergency Department Incentive, Procedural Incentive
Bridgetown
Emergency Department Incentive, Procedural Incentive
Harvey
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Pemberton/Northcliffe
Small Town GP Hospital Payment
Margaret River
Emergency Department Annual Payment
(c)
COUNTRY HEALTH INNOVATION INCENTIVE
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Emergency Department (ED) Incentive
An ED Incentive is available in eligible sites and to GPs who are:
· suitably credentialed for ED clinical scope of practice;
· available to participate and work unsupervised “on the floor” in an ED when rostered and must meet the defined shift criteria;
· available at short notice after hours to attend an ED facility.
The eligibility criteria also covers specific requirements for, the applicant to be a resident within their participating eligible site and for the provision of a community GP within the relevant Health District.
Procedural Incentive
A Procedural Incentive is available in eligible sites, and these sites are targeted based on a strategy to support births in the local site and within the district.
The Procedural Incentive provides an annual Incentive for:
· suitably credentialed GPs with relevant procedural clinical scope of practice credentialing (ie Obstetrics, Anaesthetics, General Surgery)
· participating in procedural rosters) including after hours if applicable
· who are onsite within working hours/weekend days and are available at short notice to attend an ED as required.
The eligibility criteria also covers specific requirements for, the applicant to be a resident within their participating eligible site and for the provision of a community GP within the relevant Health District.
Aboriginal Community Health Incentive
The Aboriginal Community Health Incentive may be available to support care to Aboriginal populations in key towns.
An applicant must provide evidence as to how its service supports WACHS objectives to reduce the burden of disease in Aboriginal people through the provision of Aboriginal Health Care clinics.
Access to the Incentive is determined by need and may vary from time to time as determined by WACHS.
Eligibility criteria also covers specific requirements relating to training in cultural safety, and for a GP to be resident within their participating Health Eligible and provision of a community GP practice within the relevant Health District.
Small Town GP Hospital Incentive
The Small Town GP Hospital Incentive may be available for solo, suitably credentialed GPs in eligible small towns.
This incentive is only available to a solo GP who does not receive other financial incentives under this program.
Eligibility criteria also cover specific requirements for GPs to be resident within their participating Health Eligible and provision of a community GP practice within the relevant Health District.
Location Support Incentive
The Location Support Incentive may be available for GPs in eligible towns where there is a demonstrable need.
Eligibility criteria also cover specific requirements for GPs to be resident within their participating Health Eligible and provision of a community GP practice within the relevant Health District.
(d)
KEY INCENTIVES
INCENTIVE CHANGES EFFECTIVE 1 JULY 2018
1. Emergency Department Incentive
Nil change
2. Procedural Incentive
Nil change
3. Aboriginal Community Health Incentive
Incentive has been reframed to improve targeted sites and transparency of performance reporting.
4. Primary Health Care Payment
Payment has been withdrawn, and objectives subsumed under the Small Town GP Hospital Incentive.
5. Small Town GP Hospital Incentive
Introduction of new payment to incentivise solo GPs to provide targeted support to eligible local hospitals.
6. Attraction and Assistance Incentive
Incentive has been withdrawn
7. Location Support Incentive
Nil Change
(e) There is no change to the locations that are eligible to receive financial incentives with the change in Government however, there has been a rationalisation of incentives offered to ensure appropriate care is provided where there is demonstrable need.
(f)
(i)
(A) & (B): Support to Hopetoun is packaged with Ravensthorpe
(C): Nil.
(D): One Small Town GP Hospital Payment is available.
(E):
(g) The following projected annual costs are currently confirmed for each stated location including:
LOCATION
ANNUAL COSTS
A) Ravensthorpe and B) Hopetoun
$30,000
C) Jerramungup
$0
D) Lake Grace
$26,080
E) Esperance
$997,500
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