Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR)
The Residential Medication Management Review is continued under the Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement in accordance with the arrangements set out under the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement.
Changes will be made to the Residential Medication Management Review program as part of the Fifth Community.
A Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) is a service provided to a permanent resident of an Australian Government funded aged care home who is not eligible for a Home Medicines Review (HMR).
An accredited pharmacist conducts an RMMR in association with appropriate members of the eligible resident’s health care team. To identify, resolve and prevent medicine-related problems, information about the resident’s medicine is collated and a comprehensive assessment is undertaken.
About RMMRs
Under the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement, the new RMMR program encourages collaboration between pharmacists and general practitioners (GPs)and allows for greater continuity of care for eligible aged care residents.
RMMR services may be conducted either by a pharmacist (pharmacist RMMR) or in collaboration with a GP (collaborative RMMR). The referral and participation of a GP is required for a collaborative RMMR.
RMMR payments will be made as a single prescribed fee applied to each eligible RMMR service. The prescribed fee is set at a rate of $130 per payable RMMR service.
RMMR service agreements
To become an approved RMMR service provider, an RMMR service agreement must be in place. An RMMR service agreement is an agreement between a prospective RMMR service provider and an aged care home, for the provision of RMMR services and associated quality use of medicines (QUM) services. All Australian Government funded aged care homes are eligible to obtain access to RMMR services.
The approved RMMR service provider is responsible for ensuring that the contract entered into with the aged care home constitutes a valid RMMR service agreement. The approved RMMR service provider ensures RMMR services are conducted by an accredited pharmacist who is able to respond appropriately to GP and aged care home requests, and that such services adhere to recognised professional standards.
The agreement may be terminated by the aged care home or the approved RMMR service provider with 30 days prior written notice.
Send your completed agreements and application form to:
Community Pharmacy Agreement Officer
Medicare Australia
GPO Box 9826
Adelaide SA 5001
or fax to 08 8274 9460
Patient eligibility criteria
To be eligible for an RMMR service a patient must hold a current Medicare or Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) card and be a permanent resident of a facility in which residential care services are provided, as defined by the Aged Care Act 1997.
All Australian Government funded aged care homes are eligible for RMMR services by entering into an RMMR service agreement with an approved RMMR service provider.
Generally, an RMMR service is provided once every 12 months, unless there is a major change to the resident’s medicine. In this case the resident's GP may request a collaborative RMMR, involving both the GP and an accredited pharmacist.
Service provider eligibility criteria
To be eligible for approval by Medicare Australia as an RMMR service provider the applicant must:
- be a section 90 pharmacy
- be a registered pharmacist who is either an accredited pharmacist, or employs, or has a service contract with, one or more accredited pharmacists to conduct medicine reviews on their behalf, and
- hold a current valid RMMR service agreement with an Australian Government funded aged care home, for RMMR services to be provided in that home.
Application form (includes terms and conditions)
The application form must be completed and signed by either:
- the independent registered/accredited pharmacist who is applying solely on his/her own behalf to become an approved RMMR service provider
- all owners of an approved section 90 (National Health Act 1953) pharmacy, where the application seeks approval of that pharmacy as an approved RMMR service provider
or - the registered/accredited pharmacist, as the proprietor of any other business entity, where the application seeks approval of that business entity as an approved RMMR service provider.
Applicants must attach a copy of their current RMMR service agreement, with the aged care home to the application form when applying for approval as an RMMR service provider.
Send your completed application form to:
Community Pharmacy Agreement Officer
Medicare Australia
GPO Box 9826
Adelaide SA 5001
or fax to 08 8274 9460
Payment information
Payments for the RMMR program can only be made for RMMR services provided to eligible residents in Australian Government funded aged care homes by approved RMMR service providers.
Approved RMMR service providers will be paid on a fee-for-service basis at $130 (GST exempt) per RMMR.
Payment for quality use of medicine services forms part of the RMMR service payment and is not paid separately.
Payments are routinely made within the first week of every month and will be made via electronic funds transfer into the account nominated by the service provider at the time of application. For section 90 pharmacies, payments will be made to the bank account nominated for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) payments. Claim forms must be received by Medicare Australia within 14 days of the end of the month to receive payment at the beginning of the next month.
Change of details
RMMR contract details can be changed with the RMMR contract registration change of details form. For example: change of accredited pharmacist details.
Business entity details can be changed with the RMMR business entity change of details form. For example: change of business entity bank details.
If ownership of the business entity, section 90 pharmacy or aged care home changes, a new application form [PDF, 231Kb]
and service agreement [RTF, Kb]
must be submitted to Medicare Australia.
If a section 90 pharmacy changes approval number, for reasons other than new ownership, a new application form [PDF, 231Kb] must be submitted to Medicare Australia.
Claim form
Before claiming for an RMMR service you must apply to Medicare Australia for approval as an RMMR service provider and receive back from Medicare Australia confirming that the application has been approved. See application form [PDF, 231Kb]
The approved RMMR service provider will be paid once a valid RMMR multi-lodgment claim form has been received and approved by Medicare Australia.
Send your completed claim form to:
Community Pharmacy Agreement Officer
Medicare Australia
GPO Box 9826
Adelaide SA 5001
or fax to 08 8274 9460
Quality Use of Medicine (QUM) quarterly report form
The QUM quarterly report form must be completed and signed by the:
- director of nursing or their authorised representative
- accredited pharmacist who supplied the QUM services
and/or
- approved RMMR provider.
RMMR providers must ensure the quarterly report is consistent with the QUM services and frequency of services agreed to with the aged care home as documented in the deed of variation or service agreement.
The quarterly report form must be submitted in March, June, September and December each year.
Send your completed quarterly report form to:
Community Pharmacy Agreement Officer
Medicare Australia
GPO Box 9826
Adelaide SA 5001
or fax it to 08 8274 9460 with a cover sheet titled: Community Pharmacy Agreement
Frequently asked questions
Who can provide the review?
Residential Medication Management Reviews (RMMRs) may only be provided by an approved RMMR service provider as part of an RMMR service agreement with an aged care home. An approved RMMR service provider can be an accredited pharmacist, or can nominate an accredited pharmacist, to conduct RMMR services on the service provider’s behalf.
What is an accredited pharmacist?
An accredited pharmacist is a registered pharmacist who holds a valid accreditation certificate from an accreditation body to conduct medicine management reviews. An accreditation body can be either the Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy or the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia.
Who is eligible for the RMMR service?
To be eligible for an RMMR a patient must hold a current Medicare or DVA card and be a permanent resident of a facility in which residential care services are provided, as defined in the Aged Care Act 1997.
How often can the service be provided?
Generally, an RMMR service is provided once every 12 months, unless there is a major change to the resident’s medicines. In this case the resident’s GP may request a collaborative RMMR, involving both the GP and an accredited pharmacist.
What paperwork do I need?
Applicants must attach a copy of their current RMMR service agreement, signed by the aged care home, to their application form.
Initially, you need to complete the RMMR application form [PDF, 231Kb] and send it to Medicare Australia to gain approval as an RMMR service provider.
Claiming for RMMR services conducted in an aged care home can be made by completing the RMMR multi-lodgment claim form [PDF, 541Kb]
Can I fax the forms?
Yes. All forms may be faxed to 08 8274 9460.
How soon will I receive payment?
Payments are routinely made in the first week of every month.
More information
For more information, or application and claim forms, please call 08 8274 9641.
Community Pharmacy Agreement Officer
Medicare Australia
GPO Box 9826
Adelaide SA 5001
Email: sa.guild.govt.prog@medicareaustralia.gov.au
Some documents on this page may require the free Adobe PDF reader.
Last updated: 14 October, 2011