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PSS - Average Weighted Panel (AWP)

The Average Weighted Panel (AWP) determines how many staff hours are funded under Practice Support Subsidy.


Panel weighting means that each GMS or DVC patient aged over 70 is counted as two patients. This adjustment reflects the additional workload associated with caring for older patients.


The Average Weighted Panel is calculated using a rolling 12-month average.


Practice Support Subsidy is the only circumstance in which panel size is weighted. All other entitlements, including leave and indemnity refunds, are based on actual panel size, not weighted panel size.


Increments

A GP with a weighted panel of 1,200 or more is entitled to the full Practice Support Subsidy.

  • GPs with weighted panels below 1,200 are entitled to the subsidy on a pro-rata basis, in 12 increments from 100 to 1,200.

  • GPs in receipt of a Rural Practice Allowance are deemed to have a weighted panel of 1,200 for the purposes of calculating Practice Support Subsidy.




How do I find my AWP?

You can find your Average Weighted Panel at the top of the Practice Subsidies page of your monthly PCRS Itemised Listing report ('Pink Sheets').





AWP in Partnerships

GPs in partnerships or group practices, where approved by the CHO, may aggregate their panels when applying for Practice Support Subsidy.


Each GMS GP in the partnership may claim:

  • One full-time (or equivalent part-time) practice nurse

  • One full-time (or equivalent part-time) practice secretary

  • A practice manager only where the nursing subsidy is not being maximised


Subsidy entitlements are calculated separately for each GP, based on their share of the combined weighted panel.


Example – two GP partnership

In a two GMS GP partnership with a combined weighted panel of 2,264:

  • One full subsidy is allocated at 1,200

  • The remaining 1,064 is assessed on a pro-rata basis, placing the second subsidy at the 1,000 increment


This results in:

  • One full subsidy of 35 hours

  • One pro-rata subsidy of 29 hours


These hours apply separately to each role (nurse and secretary or nurse/manager).



Claiming a Practice Manager

Where a partnership is not using all of its eligible nursing subsidy hours, the unused balance may be claimed towards a Practice Manager role.

  • This option applies only to partnerships or group practices.

  • Single-handed GPs cannot claim a Practice Manager subsidy.

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