Home Medicines Review Program

There have been over 130,000 HMRs done nationaly up until May 2007. The Government wants to make this service a vital part of Quality Use of Medicines (QUM). Many GPs are already involved in providing this service to their patients with very positive outcomes and it is predicted that the public awareness campaign to be launched this year will increase the demand substantially for Home Medicines Review (HMRs).

HMR Process

1. IDENTIFY SUITABLE PATIENT (1st Consultation)

• The overriding criteria for a Home Medicines Review is clinical need but the following are some guideines that you may wish to consider:

• 5 or more regular medicines
• more than 12 doses per day
• significant changes in medication during last 3 months
• medication with narrow therapeutic index (warfarin, digoxin)
• symptoms of adverse drug reaction
• sub-optimal response to treatment
• suspected non-compliance or inability to manage devices
• literary or language difficulties, dexterity problems, impaired sight
• attending a number of different docto October 16, 2007 st 4 weeks)

• Obtain written or oral consent
• Complete referral form
• Include lab results: Serum electrolytes, INR, LFT, plasma lipids, plasma drug concentration, TFT, Serum Creatinine

2. SEND PATIENT TO COMMUNITY PHARMACY

• Pharmacist arranges home interview
• Considers compliance, adverse effects, drug interactions, educational needs, preventative medicine, OTC purchases

3. GP RECEIVES WRITTEN REPORT

• Discuss with pharmacist

4. DISCUSS REPORT WITH PATIENT (2ND Consultation)

• Prepare medication management plan
• Arrange follow up
• Send copy of management plan to pharmacy

5. CLAIM MBS ITEM

• MBS Item 900 - $134.10 payment

Resources

For a full list of both HMR resources as well as those related to other programs please visit the Resources Section of this site.

Frequently Asked Questions: Further information can be found on the Department of Health & Ageing Website.