About HMR

Home Medicines Review (HMR) is designed to assist individuals living at home to maximise the benefits of their medicine regimen and prevent medication related problems.

A HMR Service is available to Patient’s living in the community whose General Practitioner (GP) determines that a HMR is clinically necessary to optimise the quality use of medicines and to address the patient’s needs. 

The objectives of HMR are to:

• achieve safe, effective, and appropriate use of medicines by detecting and addressing medicine-related problems that interfere with desired patient outcomes  
• improve the patient's quality of life and health outcomes using a best practice approach, that involves cooperation between the general practitioner, pharmacist, other relevant health professionals and the patient (and where appropriate, their carer)  
• improve the patient's, and health professional’s knowledge and understanding about medicines 
• facilitate cooperative working relationships between members of the health care team in the interests of patient health and wellbeing
• provide medication information to the patient and other health care providers involved in the patient’s care

Under the Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement, changes are being made to the HMR model from 1 October which will:

• highlight the importance of the patient’s clinical needs at time of referral
• empower the patient to choose the most appropriate pharmacist to interview them at home
• enable the GP to refer to either the patient’s preferred community pharmacy or an accredited pharmacist of the patient’s choice

These changes are a natural evolution of an established and proven service.  They are consistent with the National Medicines Policy, acknowledging that relationships between the patient and the pharmacist are important when support is being provided to a patient in their home. 

As part of the potential modifications to HMRs, improved access to patients deemed most at risk of medication misadventure, such as immediately after discharge, are being considered. A consultation paper was therefore developed on the implementation of a hospital referral pathway to enable urgent HMRs. The paper covers the rationale for the development of a hospital referral pathway to HMR services and raises a series of questions for stakeholder consideration and input. Comments were sought from interested organisations and individuals on the issues raised in the consultation paper.  A high level summary of the responses received from stakeholders in relation to the proposed hospital referral pathway is now available from the Department of Health and Ageing website.
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/HMR-hospital-referral-copy2

Next steps

The Department of Health and Ageing in conjunction with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, will be hosting a meeting with relevant pharmacy, general practitioner and consumer organisations and State and Territory health departments to finalise a proposal for the hospital referral pathway. This meeting will be held in late June 2012.

 

About HMR Rural Loading Allowance

HMR Rural Loading Allowance FAQ

The aim of the HMR Rural Loading Allowance is to improve access for patients residing in rural and remote areas to the HMR Service by funding up to $125 (ex GST) to contribute towards the travel costs incurred by the pharmacist to conduct the interview at the patient’s home.


HMR Rural Loading Allowance Program Specific Guidelines is available in the Resources section below.

Application Process

1. Complete the HMR Rural Loading Allowance Application Form
2. Complete the appropriate forms to allow payment to be processed
   • If registered for GST, please complete Form B: Banking Details and RCTI Agreement.
   • If not registered for GST but do have an ABN, please complete Form C: Banking Details.
   • If not registered for GST and do not have an ABN, please complete Form C: Banking Details and Form D: Statement by Supplier.
     
3. Upload the following to the “Required Documentation” field in the application form:
   • Form B, Form C, and /or Form
   • Supporting evidence (e.g. log book, travel receipts)
4. Submit application

 

Resources