Home Medicines Review: common questions

A free visit from a credentialed pharmacist to your own home, where they go through every medicine you take. That includes prescriptions, anything you buy over the counter, vitamins, herbal products and the things you have stopped taking but kept. They then write to your GP with what they found and what they suggest.

Yes. There is no charge at any point. No gap payment, no booking fee, no travel charge and nothing to claim back. You need a current Medicare or DVA card. More on what it costs.

You are generally eligible if you live at home in the community, have a chronic medical condition or a complex medicine regimen, and your treatment goals are not being met. There is no minimum number of medicines. Your GP makes the assessment. More on eligibility.

Yes. A Home Medicines Review has to be started by a medical practitioner. A pharmacist cannot arrange one for you and neither can you. What you can do is ask your GP for one at your next appointment.

Say that you would like a Home Medicines Review and that you have been told it is free. If it helps, mention that it is MBS item 900 for them. Most GPs will know it immediately.

Usually 45 to 60 minutes. It is a conversation, not an examination. You do not need to prepare anything, although it helps if you can put everything you take in one place before the pharmacist arrives.

Everything you take, including the things in the bathroom cabinet, the kitchen drawer and the handbag. Repeat scripts, any dose administration aid, and anything you buy yourself. If there is something you have stopped taking, keep it out anyway. That is often the useful bit.

No. A reviewing pharmacist cannot alter your prescriptions. They write to your GP with what they found and what they suggest, and your GP decides what happens. Nothing changes without your GP.

Yes, and it is often better if they are. If someone else manages your medicines or helps with them, they should be in the room.

Generally once every 12 months. It can be sooner if your condition or your medicines have changed significantly. Up to 2 follow-up visits are also available after an initial review, and they are free too.

It goes to the GP who referred you. Ours goes back within 7 days of the visit. Your GP then talks it through with the pharmacist and agrees a written medication management plan with you, which is provided to the pharmacy you choose.

If you live independently in a retirement village, that counts as a community setting and you are generally eligible. Residential aged care is covered by a different program called a Residential Medication Management Review.

Yes. Domiciliary Medication Management Review is the name used in the MBS, Home Medicines Review is the name of the program that pays the pharmacist. Same service. More on the two names.

No. A MedsCheck is a shorter conversation in the pharmacy. A Home Medicines Review happens at your home, takes about an hour, and produces a written report to your GP. The setting is the whole point, because what is in your cupboard is the thing nobody has looked at.

We cover Greater Sydney, South Western Sydney, the Macarthur region, Wollongong and the Illawarra, and the Shoalhaven. If you are not sure, ring 1800 701 520 and we will tell you straight away.

Yes, and it is one of the best times to have one. Medicines are very often changed during an admission, and the discharge summary does not always match what is actually in the house. Ask your GP at your post-discharge appointment.

It is health information and it is treated that way. We are bound by the Privacy Act and the NSW Health Records and Information Privacy Act. Our privacy policy sets out exactly what is collected, where it is stored and who it is shared with.

Yes, at any point, including on the day. It changes nothing about your care and it costs you nothing.