RESIDENTIAL MEDICATION MANAGEMENT REVIEW (RMMR)
RESIDENTIAL MEDICATION MANAGEMENT REVIEW (RMMR)
A Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) is a service aimed at improving the quality use of medicines (QUM) for patients who live in an approved Australian Government-funded residential aged care facility.
It involves collaboration between a GP and a pharmacist to review the medication management needs of a resident, aiming to reduce adverse events and associated hospital admissions by assisting residents and their carers to better manage their medicines.
Recent Australian evidence highlighted that embedded clinical pharmacist services in aged care homes can reduce medication-related problems, polypharmacy and adverse drug events, while also being cost-effective.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A RMMR?
A Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) is a service provided to a permanent resident of an Australian Government-funded residential aged care facility (ACF), including those in flexible care arrangements (transitional care facilities), who are not eligible for a Home Medicines Review (HMR).
rmmr process
To identify, resolve and prevent medication-related problems, information about the resident’s medicine is collated and a report provided to the resident’s GP. The review considers the resident’s existing signs, symptoms and clinical status and the drug treatments in terms of current goals of care, patient preferences and life expectancy.
A report making recommendations for the management of any medication related issues is prepared and sent to both the facility and the patient's GP.
One RMMR Service can be conducted per eligible patient on referral from a GP. A subsequent RMMR service may be conducted if more than 24 months has elapsed since the date of the most recent patient interview, or when the patient’s GP specifically deems a subsequent review is clinically necessary, such as when there has been significant change to the patient’s condition or medicine regimen.
More details can be found in:
CLAIMING & PAYMENTS
Medication reviews for residents in aged care are fully funded by the Federal Government - MBS item (item number 903).
Accredited pharmacists are currently remunerated for the conduct of RMMRs via the 6CPA.
The QUM service is a separate service provided by a registered or accredited pharmacist and focuses on improving practices and procedures as they relate to the quality use of medicines in a residential care facility.
QUM activities may include participation in medication advisory activities, the provision of advice to members of the healthcare team on a range of issues, including storage, administration, dose forms, compatibilities, therapeutic and adverse effects and compliance, and provision of education sessions for nursing staff and carers or residents on medication therapy, disease state management or prescribing trend issues.