Across Australia, 250,000 hospital admissions occur annually due to adverse drug events. These range from 5.6% in the general population to 30.4% in the vulnerable elderly population. Studies have also demonstrated that patient compliance in regard to their prescribed medication appears to be as low as 50-60%.
As such Home Medicine Review (item 900) was introduced into the Australian Medicare Benefits Schedule to address this prevalent issue within our community. This highly beneficial but yet substantially underutilised Home Medicines Review, has the aim of reducing health adversities that arise in our nation due to inappropriate medication use.
Specifically, via the collaboration with an Accredited Pharmacist whom is conducting the Home Medicines Review, the patient is assisted to better understand their medications and subsequently utilise them in a safe, effective and appropriate manner. Furthermore, this greatly improves the patient's quality of life, as well as provides medication information to yourself, the General Practitioner, to enable an enhanced patient-centric approach.
01Assessing and identifying patients suitable for a Domiciliary Medication Management Review (DMMR) according to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (item 900). | 02Following the assessment, refer your patient to our network of Accredited Pharmacists and provide us with the relevant clinical information | 03Review the pharmacists assessment and suggested medication management strategies. |
04Develop a written medication management plan following discussion with the patient and forward a copy to our network. | 05Claim MBS item 900 ($169.90) |
Across Australia General Practitioners referring their suitable patients for a DMMR has been occurring at an increasing frequency, with studies demonstrating its impactful role in improving patient health outcomes and reducing hospitalisations.
However, previously the dilemma faced by General Practitioners was of inaccessibility to Accredited Pharmacists to conduct the patient interview in a timely manner. As under the HMR program, for remuneration to occur, the patient interview must take place within 90 days of the date of referral.
Acknowledging this dilemma, DMMR Australia's role is to ensure a seamless and frictionless process to ensure the patient is being assessed in a timely manner to improve their health literacy and medication adherence as well as ensure that you are properly remunerated.
This enables you, the General Practitioner, to improve your patients' health outcomes and utilise DMMR's where indicated, knowing that your time and effort in organising the DMMR referral will be remunerated accordingly.
01Receive your referral, and contact the patient to organise a home medicines review. | 02An Accredited Pharmacist conducts the home medicines review and prepares a HMR report. |
03The report is sent to you within 2 weeks from the Home Medicine Review, to enable you to organise an appointment with your patient to review the report, formulate a medication management plan and receive remuneration from MBS item 900. | 04Forward a copy of your medication management plan to our Accredited Pharmacist whom conducted the home medicines review. |
General Practitioners collaborating with Accredited Pharmacists assists in addressing the prevalent health adversities in our community, and contributes to creating a healthier society with reduced hospital admissions, benefitting both doctors, patients and our healthcare system.
