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pharmacies, the Pharmacy Incentive Scheme Declaration is now an online form and the previous PDF paper-based form is no longer valid for claiming the incentives.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 and the number of hours completed by pharmacy staff relating to OTP related education and quality improvement activities. Pharmacies claiming the Education/Quality Improvement Incentive 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 November to 30 April
• 1 May to 31 October

The Pharmacy Incentive Scheme Declaration Forms must be submitted within one month of the end of the reporting period, meaning by 31 May and 30 November 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 are able to access an incentive payment. There is also an LAIB Commencement Incentive for pharmacies that begin administering LAIB on the pharmacy premises from 1 July 2024 onwards.

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