The Aged Care On-site Pharmacist (ACOP) Measure

The Aged Care On-site Pharmacist (ACOP) Measure (the Measure) responds to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, in particular Recommendation 38, and is intended to improve medication management and safety for residents through aged care credentialed pharmacists working on-site in residential aged care homes (RACHs) in a clinical role.

The ACOP Measure aims to:

• Improve medication use and safety in the residential aged care home, including safe and appropriate use of high risk medications
• Provide for continuity in medication management, such as day-to-day review of medications and prompt issue resolution
• Provide easy access to pharmacist advice for residents and staff
• Integrate on-site pharmacists with the health care team, including local general practitioners, nurses and community pharmacy
• Increase understanding and response to individual resident needs.

The Measure involves two tiers as follows:

• Tier 1 of the Measure relates to arrangements where a community pharmacy claims and receives payments to engage an ACOP to work at a particular RACH
• Tier 2 of the Measure relates to arrangements where a RACH claims and receives payments to engage an ACOP to work at the RACH. Note that RACHs can only participate in Tier 2 of the Measure where they have been unsuccessful in sourcing an ACOP from at least one community pharmacy, under Tier 1 of the Measure.

Eligible RACHs are able to access an ACOP under either Tier from 1 July 2024.

The ACOP Measure Rules for Tier 1 have been finalised and can be found here. ACOP Measure Tier 2 Rules are currently being finalised and will be available here prior to 1 July 2024, once finalised.

RACHs, pharmacies, and credentialed pharmacists interested in participating in the ACOP Measure are encouraged to view this page in the coming weeks for further updates. 

Please note, the PPA Support Centre is unable to provide additional information about Tier 2 of the Measure until Tier 2 Rules have been published.