Following on from last month’s article (Home Medicines Reviews – why have these been a hot topic in pharmacy?), the saga continued into late March. There were rumours that the remuneration for Home Medicines Reviews (HMRs) was recommended to be cut, as the program was reportedly $4.2 million over budget in January 2013.

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) president Grant Kardachi released a statement in mid-March clarifying a number of points, including:
        1.    The HMR budget was part of the Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement, which the Pharmacy Guild of Australia agreed on with the federal government. It had a $1 billion funding cut over five years. PSA was only made aware of this when the details of the agreement were made public.
        2.    In late 2012, the PSA called for changes to the business rules surrounding HMRs as there were concerns of rorting of the program leading to the budget over-spend.
        3.    PSA is willing to work with the Pharmacy Guild (it should also be noted that approximately half of the Guild’s membership of around 4,000 pharmacy owners are also members of the PSA)
        4.    Both the PSA and the Guild agree that this funding situation should never be allowed to happen again.

In mid-March, the federal Department of Human Services announced that pharmacists wanting to be paid for HMRs carried out on or before the 14th March 2013 had 8 days, until the 22nd March to lodge their claims. Amendments to the HMR program came into effect on the 15th March, and included a requirement for prior approval to conduct a HMR patient interview in any location other than the patient’s home. It is believed that prior to this amendment, one in five HMRs were being carried out in a location other than the patient’s home.

On 21st March, at the Australian Pharmacy Professional conference, Pharmacy Guild National President Kos Sclavos announced that the fees paid to accredited pharmacists for carrying out HMRs would remain the same, at $200.92. He said that the HMR budget would be increased by more than 30% in each of the next two financial years, with funds being reallocated in the Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement. Executive Director of the Guild David Quilty outlined concerns about community pharmacies being affected due to this reallocation of funds. Following the announcement from the Guild President, PSA president Grant Kardachi said that negotiations for the next Agreement must include other stakeholders, including the PSA.

From the articles we’ve seen on this topic in recent weeks, it seems that the PSA thinks the Guild could have negotiated a better 5CPA, and that the Guild feels that due to a reallocation of funds, community pharmacy owners are victims of the fallout following HMR rorting….. Here at My Health Career we’re hoping that the Guild and the PSA will work together in the future.