A Home Medicines Review is a procedure in which a General Practitioner can arrange for an Accredited Pharmacist to interview a patient in the patient’s home and discuss the patient’s health, lifestyle and drug therapies. It is intended for the Pharmacist to observe the patient’s management of their medications and to educate the patient so that the quality use of medicines can be achieved. An Accredited Pharmacist reviews the patient’s drug therapies for drug interactions, adverse effects and inconsistencies with the current published views on therapies. The Accredited Pharmacist then prepares a report for the referring General Practitioner.  

A Home Medicines Review can:

 
• Eliminate the confusion that some patients have about their medications
• Increase the patients understanding of the General Practitioner’s clinical intentions
• Promote co-operation between the patient and the General Practitioner
• Promote better patient compliance with dosages
• Provide improved health outcome's from the General Practitioner’s treatment.

The criteria for a patient to have a Home Medicines Review are one or more of the following:

• Currently taking 5 or more medications
• Taking more than 12 doses of medications daily
• Significant changes made to medication regimen in the last 3 months
• Medications with a narrow therapeutic index or medications requiring monitoring
• Symptoms suggestive of an adverse reaction
• Sub-therapeutic response to treatment with medicines
• Suspected non-compliance or inability to manage medication related therapeutic devices
• Having difficulty managing their own medicines
• Attending a number of different doctors, both general practitioners and specialists
• Discharge from a facility or hospital in the last four weeks
• Other medication issues or problems

A patient may have a Home Medicines Review if that patient is living in their own home or in private monitored accommodation. A patient in a government funded aged care facility does not qualify for a Home Medicines Review.

GP’s are reimbursed for a HMR by claiming MBS Item no. 900. Pharmacists are reimbursed by posting their claim to the address on the HMR claim form.

Most clinical computer programs have HMR referral and management forms available within their program. HMR referral and management plan documents, and further advice, can be obtained by contacting

Kaye McIntyre
Medication Management Review Facilitator

Department of Health and Ageing - Domiciliary Medication Management Review (DMMR)