AACP welcomes HMR move
July 20, 2010
THE Australian Association of
Consultant Pharmacy says the
foreshadowed changes to the
Home Medicines Review model (PD
13 May) are likely to create the
opportunity for more HMRs.
AACP chair Debbie Rigby has
issued a statement welcoming the
changes, which will see HMRs and
RMMRs continue to be funded
under the Fifth Community
Pharmacy Agreement.
However changes to the HMR
model will include the introduction
of direct referrals and postdischarge
HMRs initiated by
hospitals for high-risk patients.
RMMR changes would see
funding of QUM services separated
from the review component and an
increased focus on collaborative
services.
Rigby says direct referral (and
payment) will develop closer
collaboration between GPs and
accredited pharmacists, improving
the links within the health care
team - and in particular accredited
pharmacists with specialist skills in
such areas as HIV, ADHD, palliative
care and warfarin management
“will be able ot foster links with GPs
who also have an interest in those
areas.
“Pharmacists who speak other
languages will also be able to
provide HMRs to specific ethnic
populations via direct referral,”
Rigby added.
The AACP also cited recent
research projects and the PSA
Professional Practice Standards
which urge that HMRs be
conducted within 10 days of
discharge from hospital.
“We know that many community
pharmacies do not have the
capacity or workflow procedures to
deliver HMR within [this timeframe]
and we know that many accredited
pharmacists are waiting months for
payment for HMRs.
“The proposed changes will help
ensure delivery of HMRs to those
most in need when timeliness is
important,” the statement said.
The AACP also said that any
proposed changes shouldn’t replace
the existing HMR model, with the
direct referral model needing to
include the patient’s preferred
community pharmacy in the
communication loop.
“This is especially important for
post-discharge medication reviews
where medication reconciliation is
a critical component,” the
organisation said.
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