MEDICARE Benefits Schedule (MBS) reimbursements to support non-medical practitioner involvement in case conferencing would be a "game changer in improving safe and quality use of medicines (QUM)" the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) believes.
PSA National President, Associate Professor Chris Freeman, backed proposals in the MBS Review Taskforce's final report, which was released earlier this week, to provide a rebate to encourage non-medical health professionals, including pharmacists, to take part in case conferences.
"PSA has championed pharmacists' access to collaborative care items on the MBS for a long period of time and this recommendation to the Federal Health Minister brings us one step closer to achieving this," he said.
"Creating MBS items for non-medical health practitioners to align with the equivalent GP items will foster better collaboration and enhanced safe and quality use of medicine outcomes for patients.
"This recommendation, if implemented by Government, means pharmacists will be one of the eligible groups to be remunerated for participation in interdisciplinary case conferences.
"Across community pharmacies, aged care, and in general practice the change to case conference reimbursement in addition to the recent introduction of the follow up medication reviews will be a game changer in improving the safe and quality use of medicines."
Freeman added that the expansion of MBS items would support efforts to strengthen, modernise and protect the Australian health system, ensuring it is able to meet the needs of patients into the future.
"We look forward to working with the Federal Government to progress relevant recommendations to implementation," he said.
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