FAQ by doctors

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BY DOCTORS

Q: What is a Home Medicines Review (HMR/DMMR)?

A: A Domiciliary Medication Management Review (DMMR) (Item 900), also known as Home Medicines Review (HMR), is intended to maximise an individual patient's benefit from their medication regimen, and prevent medication-related problems through a team approach, involving the patient's GP and preferred accredited pharmacist or community pharmacy.

Q: Does the patient have to pay for a medication review? and do I get paid via the MBS?

A: No and Yes. This service is free of charge to the patient through referral directly to the accredited pharmacist or pharmacy. General Practitioners are entitled to a MBS fee (Item 900) of $176.40 for the service (current 10/02/2025). For more information visit this link MBS item 900.                       

Q: Which of my patients are eligible for a Home Medicines Review?

A: The Patient must satisfy the following mandatory HMR Service Eligibility Criteria:

               •The Patient is a current Medicare or DVA cardholder

               •The Patient is living in a community setting

               •The Patient is at risk of, or experiencing, medication misadventure

               •The Patient’s Referrer confirms that there is an identifiable clinical need for a HMR Service

               •For more information regarding the HMR service, see NPS medicinewise Medication Management Reviews: Information for medical practitioners

Q: Does the Pharmacist need to be specially qualified to conduct the medication review (DMMR/HMR/RMMR), or can all pharmacists conduct them?

A: In order to conduct a Home Medicines Review the pharmacist must have done extra training and be accredited to conduct the reviews. These pharmacists are called "Credentialed  Pharmacists".

Q: How do I do a referral for a HMR?

A: Many of the current prescribing software can create a referral for you, alternatively here is a link to our referral form.

Q: How often can I get a HMR done for a patient?

A: A subsequent HMR may only be conducted if more than 24 months has elapsed since the date of the most recent Patient Interview or when the referring doctor specifically deems a subsequent review is clinically necessary, such as when there has been a significant change to the Patient’s condition or medication regimen. 

Reasons why an additional review may be requested include but are not limited to:

            •Discharge from hospital after an unplanned admission in the previous four weeks

            •Significant change to a patient’s medication regimen in the past three months

            •Change in medical condition or abilities (including falls, cognition, physical function)

            •Prescription of a medicine with a narrow therapeutic index or requiring therapeutic monitoring

            •Presentation of symptoms suggestive of an adverse drug reaction

            •Sub-therapeutic response to therapy

            •Suspected non-compliance or problems with managing medication-related devices

                 •Risk of, or inability to continue managing own medicines, due to changes in dexterity, confusion or impaired vision.

Note: Program Rules indicate 24 months between reviews, whereas MBS Item number 900 indicates 12 months

Q: What happens after the Home Medicines Review service is conducted by the accredited pharmacist?

A: The accredited pharmacist will write a report to the referring doctor. This report will use information gained from the review, as well as current guidelines and resources to outline recommendations for the patient. The pharmacist is then available to the doctor to discuss any findings and management plans. If it is deemed necessary due to the patient's clinical status, the pharmacist may conduct up to 2 followup reviews, with followup reports being forwarded to the referring doctor.

Q: I have a question about Home Medicines Reviews?

A: If you have any questions at all, please contact us at: ramseykr@protonmail.com

Q: Do you protect the privacy of the doctors and patients?

A: Yes, our operations are governed by strict privacy principles. Here is a link to the patient consent form the pharmacist will ask the patient to sign before conducting the review. In order to maximise confidentiality, we use protonmail which is a HIPAA complaint email service. We also use password protection on documents we send through email to add another layer of security.