Updated medication management practice guidelines now available.

22 April 2020

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has updated practice guidelines for pharmacists on conducting medication management reviews and providing Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) services to residential aged care facilities to incorporate current best practice when providing these services.

The Guidelines for comprehensive medication management reviews provide pharmacists with best practice guidance when providing medication management review services, such as Home Medicines Reviews (HMRs) and Residential Medication Management Reviews (RMMRs).

PSA National President Associate Professor Chris Freeman said the updates to these guidelines are timely given the recent Federal Government announcements to make medication review programs available via telehealth and allow two additional HMR and RMMR follow-ups with patients following the initial review.

”The revised guidelines are designed to support pharmacists in providing quality medication management services and improve the quality use of medicines in the community,” he said.

“Pharmacists have an important role to play in reducing medication-related harm and ensuring medicines are used safely and appropriately.

”These guidelines will also provide guidance and support for pharmacists in implementing program changes in practice, such as the utilisation of follow-ups after the initial HMR or RMMR.”

They include guidance on considerations when recommending and undertaking follow-ups after the initial review, as well as highlighting the importance of collaboration and communication with the healthcare team and the role of pharmacists as part of this team when providing medication management review services.

The Guidelines for Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) services provides best practice guidance for pharmacists providing Quality Use of Medicines services in residential aged care facilities.

Information is provided on how to plan and undertake QUM activities that form part of a QUM Plan for the facility and will contribute to continuous quality improvement.

There are also examples of QUM activities that pharmacists may undertake and suggestions for the frequencies at which these activities should be undertaken are provided.

These Guidelines have been developed with funding provided by the Australian Government Department of Health and can be found at: www.psa.org.au/mmg

Media contact: PSA media: 0487 922 176

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Remunerated medicine review follow-ups now allowed

21 April 2020

Australia’s elderly will be better supported to avoid medicine-related harm following important changes to Home Medicine Review (HMRs) and Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) programs announced by the Government today.

In a move that has been welcomed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), from Tuesday April 21, accredited pharmacists will be allowed two additional HMR and RMMR follow-ups with patients within nine months of the initial review.

Previously allowed just one review per patient every 24 months, PSA National President Associate Professor Chris Freeman said allowing additional medicine reviews was a necessary step to ensure elderly patients were properly cared for when it comes to the medicines they are taking.

“As medicines experts it is essential that pharmacists are able to properly review patient’s medications as well as provide advice to other members of the health care team to ensure the safe and quality use of medicines for the elderly,” he said.

“At a time where so much attention is given to managing the immediate COVID-19 pandemic, we must also not lose sight on the importance of chronic disease management and the safe and quality use of medicines.

“Medicine-related problems lead to 250,000 hospital admissions each year costing $1.4 billion annually. Patients who take more than one medicine are at risk of problems associated with their medicines and HMRs are vitally important in identifying these issues.

“The PSA has long advocated for a system that allows for medicine reviews to be conducted frequently that is dependent on patient’s needs, with meaningful follow-up and I commend the Government for making this necessary change.”

The programs will also now be able to be referred by other medical practitioners, not just General Practitioners which will allow for specialists in aged or chronic care to refer where a GP may not be available.

A/Prof Freeman said this measure on the back of the Government’s announcement last Friday to allow medicine reviews via telehealth will help deliver on the recommendations contained in the interim report into the Royal Commission into Safety and Quality in Aged Care.

“These services are very important for patients at risk of medicine related harm and important for the pharmacists and pharmacies whose livelihoods are supported by providing these essential medicine review services,” he said.

“I am proud that or skilled profession will be able to continue its vital role in supporting medicine safety through these medicine review programs.

“PSA will continue to work with the Government, the aged care sector and other healthcare professionals, residents and families to improve medicine safety in the community.”

Media contact: PSA media: 0487 922 176

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Medication reviews via telehealth to better protect Australians

17 April 2020

Australians will be better supported to avoid medicine-related harm during the COVID-19 pandemic following the announcement that pharmacists will able to undertake a MedsCheck, Diabetes MedsCheck, Home Medicines Review or Residential Medication Management Review via telehealth.

In a move that has been strongly supported by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), the Government announced today that in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, where a patient has been identified as eligible, according to the relevant program rules medication reviews can take place via video or teleconference from 21 April 2020.

PSA National President, Associate Professor Chris Freeman said this measure to allow medicine reviews via telehealth will ensure those most vulnerable in the community were able to remain isolated but still receive vitally important medicine reviews.

“Throughout the entire COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacists are adapting and innovating to ensure they continue to provide the best healthcare for their communities,” he said.

“Allowing medicine reviews via telehealth whether it be on videoconference or teleconference is a commonsense decision made by the Government to ensure Australians continue to receive the support and medicine safety information they need without the risk of contracting COVID-19.

“This announcement also helps reduce the risk to pharmacists, who now no longer need to deliver essential comprehensive medication reviews face to face and run the risk of getting contracting COVID-19 themselves.”

A/Prof Freeman said while PSA welcomes this announcement he will continue to work with the Government and other healthcare professionals to improve medicine safety in the community, particularly around Home Medicine Review (HMR) follow-ups.

“Currently pharmacists can provide just one HMR per patient every 24 months with similar restrictions imposed on RMMR and MedsCheck programs and I am calling on the Government to allow pharmacists to be able to perform additional follow-ups as clinically necessary,” he said.

“As medicines experts it is essential that pharmacists are able to properly review patient’s medications as well as provide advice to other members of the health care team to ensure the safe and quality use of medicines for the elderly,” he said.

“In a time where so much attention is given to managing the immediate COVID-19 pandemic, we must also not lose sight on the importance of chronic disease management and the safe and quality use of medicines”

“Medicine-related problems lead to 250,000 hospital admissions each year costing $1.4 billion annually. Patients who take more than one medicine are at risk of problems associated with their medicines and medication review services are vitally important in identifying these issues.

For further information please visit the dedicated PSA COVID-19 Webpage.

Media contact: PSA media: 0487 922 176

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People in the ACT better protected following vaccination announcement

8 April 2020

Families with children aged 10 and older will today be able to access the influenza vaccination through community pharmacy. This means more members of the ACT Community can access vital influenza vaccinations prior to the flu season, through their local professional pharmacist.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has welcomed decisions by the ACT Government to: lower the age of influenza vaccination in community Pharmacy to 10 years old; remove the restriction on administering the influenza vaccination to a person who is pregnant; and for the first time to enable trained pharmacists in the ACT to administer measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines to people aged 16 and older.

PSA ACT Branch President Renae Beardmore said this announcement is timely given the ongoing threat of COVID-19 leading into the flu season and also brings the ACT in-line with other states and territories.

“At a time when our health care system is under extreme pressure due to COVID-19, increasing options for more people in the ACT to access vaccinations is vital,” Ms Beardmore said.

“The decision to lower the age to 10 years and older for the influenza vaccine will protect younger children and make it more convenient for families, improving rates of immunisation across the ACT.

“Pharmacists are more accessible to the community than any other health provider and combined with the trust consumers have in the profession, these changes will allow pharmacists to make a greater contribution to increasing immunity across the ACT.

Ms Beardmore commended the Government’s decision to allow pharmacists to protect more people in the ACT from influenza and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

“As the peak national body for pharmacists, PSA has advocated for many years, including most recently in PSA’s 2020-21 ACT pre-budget submission, to allow pharmacists to deliver more vaccinations to a wider range of patients.

“PSA will continue to work closely with the ACT Government to remove barriers which restrict pharmacists from administering other vaccines to better protect the community.”

PSA Contact: Angela Drayton: 0419 241 344

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Australians to access medicines without a prescription during COVID-19

31 March 2020

All Australians will be able to access their essential medicines continued by a pharmacist at PBS prices if their prescription has run out under continued dispensing arrangements announced by the Federal Government today.

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia National President Associate Professor Chris Freeman welcomed the announcement made by the government which will see continued dispensing arrangements extended until at least the end of June and the implementation of medicine substitution when medicines are out of stock following consultation with states and territories.

“This will enable Australians to continue access their vital medicines as a “one-off” in an emergency if they cannot get a prescription during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

“Subject to professional guidelines and state and territory regulation, the initiative allows for a standard pack size of most ongoing prescription medicines to be provided, usually equivalent to one month’s supply.

PSA has been working with the Federal Government to ensure the emergency measure is extended during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Medicines supplied under this arrangement are available at regular PBS prices – standard co-payments being $6.60 for concession card holders, and up to a maximum of $41 for general patients.

A/Prof Freeman congratulated the coordination of states and territories and the Commonwealth on working to enact the regulatory changes required in relation to both PBS funding and legality of supply and noted that it is understood that all states and territories if not already aligned intend to have aligning legislation.

“While this announcement is welcomed by PSA, we will continue to call for permanent emergency supply provisions of this nature.

“Whether it be a bushfire, pandemic or any other emergency, Australians need to be confident they can access medicines in an emergency from the time they strike.

“We will continue to work with the Federal Government, in collaboration with its state and territory counterparts, after this crisis subsides to permanently incorporate effective and nationally consistent emergency supply provisions.”

“As front line health professionals, pharmacists continue to play a vital role during the current COVID-19 pandemic and it is important they receive all the tools necessary to ensure they can deliver services in a timely manner that meets the health care needs of their patients and the community.”

The Federal Government also announced it will be implementing changes to allow community pharmacists to substitute dose strengths or forms of medicines without prior approval from the prescribing doctor, if a medicine is unavailable at the time of dispensing.

“PSA strongly supports this announcement having worked in partnership with the Department of Health and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia for this much needed change.
“We will continue to work with the Government on the implantation of this common sense initiative.”

Media contact: 0487 922 176

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