Home Medicines Review

A Home Medicines Review (HMR), also known as a Domiciliary Medication Management Review (DMMR), is a comprehensive review for patient’s living in the community. It is designed to optimise patient health outcomes through a person-centred, collaborative approach involving the patient, their GP, a credentialed pharmacist, and their regular community pharmacy. 

The objectives of an HMR are to ensure the safe, effective, and appropriate use of medicines, prevent medication-related problems, and improve the patient’s quality of life through a coordinated team effort. 

Step 1. Initial GP consultation with patient  

Assess the patient’s eligibility and need; by confirming they have a chronic medical condition, or a complex medication regimen and their therapeutic goals are not being met. Discuss the HMR process and potential benefits with the patient, providing relevant consumer information (see examples on side resource panel) and obtain consent. 

Identify a credentialed pharmacist and create an HMR referral. Send securely to a credentialed pharmacist or a community pharmacy for an HMR, and provide relevant clinical information, including the reason for the review and any recent pathology results.  

Templates for creating an HMR referral

Medical Director - Medical Director includes an HMR referral template (DMMR Referral – Home Medicines Review) within the practice software. Please view the instructions on how to create an HMR in Medical Director.

Best Practice - Import the HMR referral template, developed to ensure all essential information is captured easily. It streamlines the referral process and replaces the outdated and difficult-to-use DMMR Form 1. Please read the instructions about how to import templates into Best Practice and do not open the file before importing into Best Practice.  

Instructions: how to create an HMR in Best Practice software

Referral template: HMR referral template for BP v2

Step 2. Credentialed pharmacist conducts the HMR

The credentialed pharmacist visits the patient at home to conduct the HMR interview and provides an HMR report with findings and recommendations to the GP within 10 working days. 

Step 3. GP and credentialed pharmacist collaborate post review

Discuss the findings of the HMR with the credentialed pharmacist, including any suggested medication management strategies. This discussion may occur in writing, or via phone or video consultation. The patient is not required to be present for this step. 

Step 4. Develop a medication management plan (MMP) – follow up consultation 

Discuss the findings from the HMR report with the patient, incorporating their personal goals, and outline the identified medication-related issues along with the agreed-upon actions in the Medication Management Plan. Create a written medication management plan using one of the following: 

1. The credentialed pharmacist’s report - many HMR reports include a proposed plan that can be annotated by the GP to serve as the MMP
2. The Best Practice software enhanced primary care (EPC) tab
3. A medication management plan template – either a customised version or one supplied within the practice software

Medical Director includes a Medication Management Plan template (DMMR Plan – Home Medicines Review) within the practice software. We have provided an MMP RTF. template that can be imported into Best Practice software. Please do not open the file before importing into Best Practice.  

Provide the written medication management plan to the patient and their regular community pharmacy/credentialed pharmacist. The date of service is the date this step is completed. 

Step 5. Claim MBS item 900

Submit the claim only after all the above components of the HMR have been completed, including development and provision of the MMP (step 4). 

HMR recommendation tool

A quick screening tool to help practice teams identify patients who may benefit from an HMR and recommend referral to their GP. The tool can easily be incorporated into care plans and health assessments.

Fillable HMR recommendation tool PDF

Best Practice: HMR recommendation tool template (requires importing into software)

Medical Director: HMR recommendation tool template (requires importing into software)

Additional resources

Medicines Advice Initiative Australia: addressing the hidden risk of cumulative medicines load to reduce harm

Australian Deprescribing Network: deprescribing guidelines with algorithms and other implementation tools

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia: credentialed pharmacists directory

Brisbane North HMR Healthpathways

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) HMR activities