Home Medicines Review (HMR)

• Purpose: Enhance the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) and reduce adverse medicine events.

Referral and Eligibility

• Referring Practitioners:
  • General Practitioner (GP)
  • Specialist in Pain Medicine
  • Specialist Physician
  • Specialist Psychiatrist
  • Specialist in Palliative Medicine
• Referral Process:
  • Patients choose to provide the referral to their usual Community Pharmacy or another Service Provider (e.g., sole trader Accredited Pharmacist).
• Eligibility Criteria:
  • Hold a current Medicare card or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) card.
  • Live in a community setting.
  • At risk of or experiencing medication misadventure.
  • Identifiable clinical need confirmed by the Referring Medical Practitioner.
    • More than 5 regular meds
    • More than 12 doses/day
    • Recent significant change in medication
    • Meds with narrow therapeutic index/need monitoring
    • Symptoms suggest adverse reaction
    • Sub-optimal response to treatment
    • Suspect non complaince
    • Difficulty managing because literacy/language
    • Impaired sight/confusion/dementia/cognitive
    • Multiple doctors
    • Recent discharge facility/hospital
  • Not eligible if currently an in-patient at a hospital, transition care facility, or resident of an Aged Care Facility.

HMR Process

• Collaborative Effort:
  • Involves the Referring Medical Practitioner, GP (if not the Referrer), Accredited Pharmacist, Patient, healthcare team members, and where appropriate, a carer.
• Initial Interview:
  • Conducted by an Accredited Pharmacist to improve the Patient’s understanding of their medicines.
• HMR Report:
  • Produced by the Accredited Pharmacist after the initial Interview.
  • Outlines findings and recommendations.
  • Aims to assist the Referrer and Patient in developing a medication management plan.
  • Provided to the Referrer, GP (if not the Referrer), and any other healthcare team members as requested by the patient.
  • Should be uploaded to the Patient’s My Health Record (if available).

Follow-Up Services

• Follow-Up Interviews:
  • Up to two follow-ups can be conducted if clinically indicated.
  • First follow-up: No earlier than one month and no later than nine months after the initial Interview.
  • Second follow-up: No earlier than one month after the first follow-up and no later than nine months after the initial Interview.
• Indications for Follow-Up:
  • Determined during the initial HMR Report based on medication-related problems identified.

Participation and Registration

• Service Providers:
  • S90 Community Pharmacies and entities with an Accredited Pharmacist relationship can register.
  • Must meet eligibility requirements and agree to the Pharmacy Programs Administrator General Terms and Conditions.
  • Register on the Pharmacy Programs Administrator Portal.
• Funding:
  • HMR Services under the 7CPA must be provided at no charge to the Patient if they meet eligibility criteria.
  • If ineligible or non-consenting to data sharing for claims, the service can be offered at the Patient’s cost.