Changes to HMR program
February 11, 2013
GUILD Executive Director, David
Quilty, says he appreciates today’s
“public confirmation” by Health
Minister Tanya Plibersek that
changes to the Home Medicines
Review scheme have already been
agreed between the Guild and the
department (PD breaking news).
The Guild controversially called
for a moratorium on the program
which generated significant
comment and opposition over the
last week, but Quilty now said the
call “has had the desired effect of
focussing the Government’s and
the pharmacy sector’s minds on the
issues with the HMR program”.
Plibersek said she had decided
against a moratorium, saying she
was “very aware that the HMR
program has a strong evidence
base and has been supported
through successive Agreements
since 2001.
“HMRs provided by accredited
pharmacists in patients’ homes
deliver very real and tangible
health outcomes for around 77,000
Australians each year,” she said.
The minister also confirmed that
despite the cost blowout in the
HMR scheme, which has seen a
$4.4m overspending of the full year
budget in the first six months of the
financial year.
“However I am pleased to advise
that spending across all professional
programs in the Fifth Agreement is
still on track,” she said.
Plibersek added that “it appears
that there are some practices that
are not consistent with the policy
intent of the program, such as a
large proportion of reviews being
conducted outside the patient’s
home,” with Medicare working to
urgently implement changes
“which would support HMRs being
conducted within the intent and
spirit of the programs”.
MEANWHILE the Pharmaceutical
Society of Australia welcomed the
announcement, with PSA National
President, Grant Kardachi, saying
this “follows the identification last
year by PSA of some concerns
surrounding the business rules for
delivery of HMRs,” and promising
that the Society would continue to
engage to strengthen the program.
Union group APESMA also hailed
the news that the “ridiculous
proposal” for a moratorium would
not proceed, claiming the move
was “a victory for APESMA’s efforts
to maintain this vital career path for
some of Australia’s best
pharmacists”.
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