A Home Medication Review is a service provided to patients living in their own home. The goal of a Home Medication Review is to maximise an individual patient's benefit from his/her medication regimen. The aim is to prevent medication-related problems through a team approach involving the patient's General Practitioner and preferred community pharmacy, with the patient as the central focus.

In collaboration with the General Practitioner, a pharmacist comprehensively reviews the patient's medication regimen (including over-the-counter and complementary medicines) in a home visit.

After discussion of the visit findings and a written report from the pharmacist, the GP and patient agree on a medication management plan. The patient is central in the development and implementation of this plan.

HMR Process :

1. 1st Consultation
- Identify suitable patient
- Provide patient information
- Obtain written or oral consent
- Complete referral form to pharmacist including pathology results eg. electrolytes, INR, LFTs, lipids, TFT, creatinine etc.
- Claim ordinary consultation item (eg. 23 or 36)

2. Community Pharmacist Contacts Patient
- Pharmacist arranges home visit
- Pharmacist considers compliance, adverse effects, drug interactions, educational needs, preventative medicine & over the counter purchases.
- Pharmacist writes report on findings

3. General Practitioner receives written report
- Discuss with Pharmacist

4. Discuss Report with Patient (2nd Consultation)
- Prepare Medication Management Plan
- Arrange any follow up
- Provides patient and pharmacy with copy of Medication Management Plan

5. Claim MBS Item

- MBS Item 900 - $134.10 100% (Current 1st Nov, 06)

The Division employs a part-time Home Medication Review Facilitator to promote the program to General Practitioners, pharmacists and other health professionals. Information and resources are available on request.

If you have queries in relation to any aspect of the Home Medication Review please contact Nadine Long,