Rules and FAQs now available for the Aged Care On-site Pharmacist (ACOP) Measure

The Department of Health and Aged Care and the Pharmacy Programs Administrator (PPA) would like to advise that Tiers 1 and 2 of the Aged Care On-site Pharmacist (ACOP) Measure will commence on 1 July 2024.

The 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.

Tier 1

Pharmacies will be able to participate in the Measure from 1 July 2024, provided they are able to identify a RACH that would like to partner with them in relation to the Measure. The Main Authorised Person for the pharmacy’s PPA Portal account will first need to register for the Measure in the PPA Portal before then being able to complete and upload a signed Service Authorisation evidencing their partnership with a RACH.

Pharmacies can submit a single monthly claim for the total days worked at each RACH by the ACOP/s during a calendar month. Monthly claims are submitted in arrears and must be submitted by the end of the following calendar month. For example, for days worked in July, the claim must be submitted between the first and last day of August.

More information about Tier 1 of the Measure including ACOP Measure Tier 1 Rules and FAQs are available on the PPA website here.

Tier 2

More information about Tier 2 of the Measure including ACOP Measure Tier 2 Rules and FAQs will shortly be made available on a separate Tier 2 webpage.