>> Yes Greg, I believe I am using all appropriate technology and therefore >> should be in the top IT 'tier' for PIP and not be penalized simply because >> that sort of data transmission doesn't occur in our division. Since I do >> encrypted claiming with HIC I feel justified in ticking the appropriate >> boxes. > > I finally dug through the menu and found the documents for the new IMIT > criteria and tiers and I interepret that as long as you use encryption or a > secure messaging system whenever electronically transferring data, you may > claim for Tier 1. I do not interpret that you *must* be transmitting data > electronically.
Correct, so there's three basic scenarios: 1. You send patient information electronically but don't encrypt (= no $$) 2. You send patient information electronically with encryption (= $$) 3. You don't send patient information electronically (= $$) In other words, these new requirements (by themselves) provide no real incentive to transmit patient information electronically. While the stuff about encryption caused the most confusion, the real kick in the new PIP requirements is reserved for practices who haven't been entering diagnoses/notes etc into their software i.e. only using their clinical software as a script typewriter. >From my article on the recent changes: ** "To be eligible for Tier 2, practices must comply with the requirements of Tier 1 and ensure that two key types of clinical information are recorded electronically for the majority of active patients: 1. Major diagnoses 2. Current medications Medicare Australia leaves the clinician to decide on the definition of both of these terms. Compliance with Tier 2 is worth an additional $3 per SWPE per annum. For practices that currently use their clinical software for prescribing only, compliance with Tier 2 is likely to take a concerted effort over many months. According to staff on the Medicare Australia PIP enquiry line, these practices will need to identify their active patients, and then retrospectively enter major diagnoses (and current medications if this isn¹t already stored) into their clinical software. ** Regards, Simon -- Simon James Publisher Pulse IT M: 0402 149 859 F: 02 9475 0029 E: [EMAIL PROTECTED] W: http://www.pulsemagazine.com.au 3/61A Bream Street Coogee NSW 2034 _______________________________________________ Gpcg_talk mailing list [email protected] http://ozdocit.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gpcg_talk
