This targeted incentive is intended to assist practices in keeping up to date with information on the quality use of medicines. It rewards participation in a range of activities recognised or provided by the NPS. The NPS is a professional organisation, run independently of Government with broad GP representation and leadership. The NPS can be contacted on the following number: (02) 8217 8700.

The NPS aims to assist GPs achieve more effective, quality prescribing through a range of education, support and prescribing information.

Currently recognised activities are:

• clinical audit of prescribing for specific drug groups using materials approved or produced by the NPS (available to all practices four times a year)
• case studies using problem-based distance learning provided by the NPS (available to all practices six times a year), and
• practice visit (s) by an independent pharmaceutical detailer working from a number of Divisions of General Practice. These 'academic detailing' visits will provide a resource for GPs and promote quality use of medicines. (Initially, the availability of this option will be geographically limited, but will increase as NPS program coverage is expanded.)

Each activity is undertaken on an individual level, and the NPS will provide feedback to the individual GPs. Payment will only be made if the practice meets a minimum participation level, set at an average of three activities per FTE GP per year. One of these activities must be a clinical audit, while the other two can be any recognised activity.

For example, a practice with one FTE GP would need to participate in three activities, including at least one clinical audit. The doctors in a practice with five FTE GPs would need to participate in at least 15 activities between them, including five clinical audits, to receive payment. Some GPs in the practice may undertake more or less activities, so long as the practice as a whole averages three activities per FTE GP.

As with other PIP payments, the payment will be made to the practice, which will then be responsible for determining how it is distributed. This payment is summarised in the following table:

Activity	Practice participation in quality use of medicines programs, endorsed by the National Prescribing Service.
P.I.P.	$1.00 (per SWPE)
Notes	This incentive is to assist practices in keeping up to date with information on the quality use of medicines. Payment will only be made if the practice meets a minimum participation level, set at an average of three activities per FTE GP per year.  One of these activities must be a clinical audit, while the others two can be any recognised activity

The NPS may recommend additional activities for inclusion in the QPI. Practices will be notified if they are able to choose from additional activities.

The payment for this incentive is made annually in the May quarter, and is based on the number of audits and activities identified on the November payment statement. Medicare Australia will calculate payments using information supplied by the NPS on the number of activities undertaken by each provider. To ensure your practice correctly receives its payment, please ensure each GP notifies the NPS of their provider and prescriber numbers when undertaking an activity.

Practices will be advised in each quarterly statement of how many activities they need to complete to be eligible for this payment. QPI payments are made based on the number of audits and activities identified on the November payment statement of the previous year.