$24,000 worth of HMRs unclaimed in Ballarat area
A review of the Pharmacy Guild statistics of HMR claims in the Ballarat area indicates that GPs are missing out on payments for HMRs.
Pharmacy claims have significantly outnumbered GP claims over the last 2 years. This would indicate that the GP has sent the HMR referral to the pharmacist. The pharmacist has then conducted the HMR , sent the report to the GP, and sent the pharmacy claim to Medicare. The GP, however is not always claiming for the HMR.
There may be a number of reasons for this, including the fact that the GP has not yet seen the patient for a follow up consultation to complete the HMR process, or they have seen the patient but have not claimed item 900, losing out on a payment of $140.
Practices need to ensure that recall procedures are put in place, so that the HMR process is completed and item 900 is claimed.
Pharmacy and GP HMR Claims per 100,000 population for Ballarat & District Division of General Practice
Over the last two years it is estimated that almost $24,000 in payments have not been claimed, with 170 HMRs conducted by pharmacists that have gone unclaimed by local GPs.
HMRs are a valuable service providing GPs with information about their patients’ medications and ensure quality use of medicines by the patient. HMRs may easily be linked in with other health assessments, health checks, Team Care Arrangements and GP Management Plans.
If a GP claims just one HMR per week this amounts to $ 7,280 over the course of the year.
Anyone needing further information regarding Home Medicines Reviews can contact me at annam@bddgp.org.au.
