The Practice Incentives Program e-Health Incentive is an Australian government initiative to encourage the uptake of e-health technologies in all general practices, and has components that practices need to meet in order to qualify for payments through this incentive. One of the elements of the incentive is related to NEHTA and a secure messaging requirement. As technology continues to emerge, practices will be able to:

• securely exchange information such as discharge summaries, pathology reports and specialist reports electronically
• send electronic referrals, pathology orders and participate in electronic prescribing

Patient information sent and received electronically will also be able to be added directly into a patient's electronic health record. The PIP is administered by Medicare Australia on behalf of the Australian Government's Department of Health and Ageing.

NEHTA invites medical software industry suppliers to participate in a consultation program to develop the secure messaging specifications and compliance requirements for PIP. Below are the consultation activities which have (or are) occurring with industry. Refer to the Documents & Presentations link to the left for details on past sessions.

• 3rd Technical workshop was held with industry on 4 June 2009 in Sydney.
• 4th Technical workshop was held on 25 June 2009 in Sydney.
• 5th Technical workshop was held on 23 July 2009 in Sydney.
• 6th Technical workshop was held on 6 Aug 2009 in Sydney.
• 7th Technical workshop was held on 27 Aug 2009 in Sydney.
• 8th Technical workshop was held on 16 Sep 2009 in Sydney.
• 9th Technical workshop was held on 29 Sep 2009 in Sydney.

NEHTA looks forward to working with the medical software industry.

Practice eligibility for the PIP e-Health Incentive will require confirmation that the practice has established a secure messaging capability utilising a product that complies with the NEHTA specifications for secure messaging.

To confirm eligibility a practice will simply need to check the Eligible Suppliers link to ascertain whether their software supplier is listed as an eligible supplier. Practices have until 31 July 2009 to comply with the secure messaging requirement.

Health Providers should continue to channel enquiries to Medicare regarding the PIP e-Health Incentive. More information on the PIP e-Health Incentive guidelines are available at Medicare Australia.

In order for a supplier to ensure their products are listed as PIP-eligible they will be required to submit a statement of commitment to NEHTA. NEHTA will be working with medical software industry vendors through a consultation program to develop the secure messaging specifications and compliance requirements for the Practice Incentives Program.

NEHTA looks forward to working with the medical software industry in supporting this important initiative. Should you wish to register interest in these upcoming events please contact NEHTA at 1300 901 001 or email your enquiries to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . You can also subscribe to the NEHTA RSS for all notifications and alerts.

The secure messaging element of the PIP e-Health Incentive has been developed in consultation with NEHTA and aligns with the directions set out in the Australian Government's National e-Health Strategy.

Practice eligibility for the PIP e-Health Incentive will require confirmation that the practice has established a secure messaging capability utilising a product that complies with the NEHTA specifications for secure messaging. To confirm eligibility, a practice will need to check the Compliant Suppliers link to ascertain whether their software supplier is listed as an eligible supplier.

In order for a Supplier to ensure their products are listed as PIP-eligible they will be required to submit a statement of commitment to NEHTA. NEHTA will be working with medical software industry vendors through a consultation program to develop the secure messaging specifications and compliance requirements for the Practice Incentives Program.