Pharmacy Incentive Scheme

To streamline the processing of Incentive payments to participating pharmacies, the Pharmacy Incentive Scheme Declaration is now an online form and the previous PDF paper-based form is no longer valid for claiming the incentives.

The online Pharmacy Incentive Scheme Declaration Form requires pharmacies to declare the number of eligible patients being dosed under the NSW Opioid Treatment Program for a minimum of 2 consecutive months during the 6-month reporting period. Pharmacies must have completed the OTP Pharmacy Self Audit at least once during the reporting period. There are also some questions that assist in understanding pharmacy capacity and services available such as Depot Buprenorphine administration.

The Pharmacy Incentive Scheme reporting periods are:

• 1 April - 30 September
• 1 October - 31 March

The OTP Pharmacy Incentive Scheme Declaration Form must be submitted within one month of the end of the reporting period, meaning by 31 October and 30 April respectively. Pharmacy Incentive Scheme payments will be made for up to 40 patients per reporting period and now includes LAIB dispensed for patient administration off-site, for example by a GP or at a clinic. Pharmacies that complete the OTP Pharmacy Self Audit during the reporting period can access an incentive payment. There is also a Long-Acting Injectable Buprenorphine (LAIB) Incentive for pharmacies that provide LAIB. A list of the available incentives that registered pharmacies can access is as follows:

• An incentive of $50 + GST for each patient dosed for at least 2 consecutive months during the 6-month reporting period, capped at 40 patients.
• An incentive of $200 + GST for the completion of theOTP Pharmacy Self Auditat least once during the 6-month reporting period.
• An incentive of $250 + GST paid to pharmacies that provide Long-acting Injectable Buprenorphine (LAIB), paid once during the 6-month reporting period.
• An initial incentive of $2000 + GST for a new OTP Dosing Point Pharmacy that registers for the PhIS. Pharmacy must be approved as a Dosing Point by NSW Health and have dosed at least 1 patient for 2 months.
• Optional regional sign on incentive: An incentive of $2000 + GST for a new OTP Dosing Point Pharmacy that registers for the PhIS, paid to rural or regional pharmacies (as defined by Modified Monash Model, or at the discretion of NSW Health) upon commencement of OTP. This is paid in addition to the initial sign on incentive.

The Ministry of Health and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (NSW Branch) will conduct audits of the information provided and other records relating to pharmacotherapy dosing to ensure that accurate claims are being made and to check on compliance with the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 and Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008.

This simplification of the Pharmacy Incentive Scheme reporting means a streamlining of processes and will lead to quicker incentives payments to pharmacies.

For further information about the Pharmacy Incentive Scheme, please contact the Guild on 02 9467 7100 or email healthservices@nsw.guild.org.au

Click here for the Six Monthly Declaration Form