A good change is coming for the general practice quality plan

From 1 July 2024, Pinnacle is changing the focus of the quality plan to support capacity and capability building in general practice. There will also be a change to how quality plan funds are allocated.

Through consultation with cluster groups and practice teams we are transitioning from incentive payments to a capacity funding model, aiming to support practices to improve outcomes using quality improvement methods.

We appreciate it's been a challenging year for practices, including financially. With this change we envisage distributing a significantly increased amount of funding to support the achievement of outcomes by practices, with a bulk payout for the vast majority of quality funding.

These changes see Pinnacle shift from paying based on the achievement of goals to paying for the activity that underpins your work towards achieving it. This approach will see practices receiving increasing funding based on 2022/23 achievements. Pinnacle proposes paying $10.64 per ESU for active participation in the quality improvement programme.

In the first year it is envisaged that all practices will be paid full funding to build capacity within their practice. This funding is not attached to targets, and will enable you to build capacity. In most cases, practices will receive more funding and no practices will lose their current funding level. 

Under the new Quality Improvement Plan, practices will receive comprehensive support, including resources, guidance, and specific capacity payments. Although the focus of our funding is shifting, your current quality indicators will continue to be reported through your practice management systems.

More details will be shared early in the new year as we formally launch this programme. 

Ngā mihi,
Justin Butcher
Kaiwhakatere (Chief Executive Officer)