Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement
Services for Consumers
Medication Management Programs
Medication Adherence Programs
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Specific Programs
Rural Support Programs
Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement
The Australian Healthcare Associates have responsibility for administration of the pharmacy programs under the banner of Pharmacy Programs Administrator. From 1 March 2014 to 31 January 2019 the Pharmacy Guild of Australia administered the pharmacy programs.Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement
The Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement (7CPA) is a five year agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. It supports consumer access to Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidised medicines and related services through community pharmacies across Australia.
The 7CPA provides for an overall funding envelope of $18.35 billion, comprising:
- $16.00 billion in pharmacy remuneration for dispensing PBS subsidised medicines;
- $1.20 billion for professional pharmacy programs; and
- $1.15 billion for the Community Service Obligation and National Diabetes Services Scheme product distribution arrangements.
For further information about the 7CPA, please see the Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement page.
Pharmacy services
The Seventh Agreement will provide community pharmacies and pharmacists with funding to deliver professional programs and services over the life of the Agreement of around $1.2 billion. Programs under the Seventh Agreement include the continuation and revision of some existing pharmacy services from the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement. The programs and services are:Medication Management Programs
Medication Management Programs are intended to support the quality use of medicines and assist with minimise adverse medicine events.Home Medicines Review (HMR)
The intent of the HMR Program is to support the quality use of medicines and assist minimising adverse medicine events by helping people to better understand and manage their medicines through a medication review conducted by an Accredited Pharmacist in the home.Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) and Quality Use of Medicines (QUM)
The intent of the RMMR Program is to support the quality use of medicines and assist minimising adverse medicine events for people living in approved Australian Government-funded Aged Care Facilities through medication reviews conducted by Accredited Pharmacists in the aged care facility.The Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) Program supports the delivery of services and activities by pharmacists aimed at supporting the quality use of medicines, including the safe use of medicines, within Australian Government-funded Aged Care Facilities.
MedsCheck and Diabetes MedsCheck
The MedsCheck and Diabetes MedsCheck services involve the provision of an in-Pharmacy one-on-one discussion and medication review provided by a pharmacist. These services are aimed at addressing concerns or questions a person has about their medicines.Medication Adherence Programs
Medication Adherence Programs aim to improve medication adherence.Dose Administration Aids
Dose Administration Aids (DAA) are provided with the aim of assisting people with the management and timing of their medicines. A DAA is a well-sealed, tamper-evident device that allows individual medicine doses to be organised according to the prescribed dose schedule.Staged Supply
Staged Supply services provide PBS medicines in instalments when requested by the prescriber. The Staged Supply Program aims to assist people who are at risk of drug dependency or who are otherwise unable to manage their medicines safely.Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Programs
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Programs are targeted programs and services which aim to support the quality use of medicines and provide culturally appropriate services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.QUMAX – Quality Use of Medicines Maximised For Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander People
The Quality Use of Medicines Maximised for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People (QUMAX) Program supports services provided by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and Community Pharmacists who participate in the Program. The Program provides support in seven categories:- Dose Administration Aid (DAA) arrangements
- Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) pharmacy support
- Home Medicines Review (HMR) models of support
- QUM devices
- QUM education
- Cultural awareness
- Transport.
Section 100 Pharmacy Support Allowance
The Section 100 Pharmacy Support Allowance provides payments to pharmacy owners to support the delivery of a range of Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) services to remote area Aboriginal Health Services, including:- Development of policies and procedures that improve the Section 100 management and supply arrangements
- Development of policies and procedures that improve the Section 100 stock control and logistics
- Education of staff with regards to Section 100 policies and procedures
- Providing medication review services.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme
The aim of this scholarship scheme is to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to undertake undergraduate or graduate entry studies in pharmacy at an Australian university.Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Assistant Traineeship Scheme
The aim of this scheme is to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in the pharmacy workforce to assist pharmacies to better meet the needs of their local communities. The scheme provides allowance payments to eligible pharmacies that employ and support Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Assistants to complete a nationally accredited Pharmacy Assistant training course.Rural Support Programs
Rural Support Programs are targeted programs and services to support access to PBS medicines and pharmacy services for people living in rural and remote regions of Australia.Rural Pharmacy Maintenance Allowance
The Rural Pharmacy Maintenance Allowance Program is aimed at supporting access to PBS medicines and pharmacy services for people living in rural areas by providing financial support to eligible pharmacy owners in regional, rural and remote areas.Rural Continuing Professional Education Allowance
The Rural Continuing Professional Education Allowance assists pharmacists from rural and remote areas to access Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities by providing financial support for travel and accommodation. The Program also provides funding for professional educators to travel to a rural location to deliver CPD activities to a group of practising pharmacists.Emergency Locum Service
The Emergency Locum Service Program provides support to Pharmacy owners in rural and remote areas through direct access to pharmacist locums in emergency situations such as illness, bereavement, or family emergencies. The service aims to place a locum in any location in Australia within 24 hours, for a maximum of seven days.Intern Incentive Allowance for Rural Pharmacies
The Intern Incentive Allowance for rural Pharmacies is aimed at improving the rural and remote workforce by providing incentive payments to pharmacy owners or eligible hospital authorities offering a placement for a pharmacy graduate during their intern year in a rural or remote Pharmacy.Rural Intern Training Allowance
The Rural Intern Training Allowance provides financial support for pharmacy Interns practicing in rural and remote areas to access compulsory training activities required as part of their Intern Training Program.Rural Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme
The Rural Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme provides financial support to students from rural and remote communities to undertake undergraduate or postgraduate studies in pharmacy at university. Scholarship holders are encouraged to seek employment in rural and remote areas following graduation.Rural Pharmacy Scholarship Mentor Scheme
The Rural Pharmacy Scholarship Mentor Scheme aims to encourage and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scholars and scholars from rural and remote locations to undertake undergraduate and graduate studies in pharmacy at an Australian university, by providing guidance and support from a practising rural Pharmacist Mentor during each year of their pharmacy studies. Mentors can choose to be paid for participating in the Scheme and if so can receive a payment per mentored scholar per year.Rural Pharmacy Liaison Officer Program
The Rural Pharmacy Liaison Officer Program aims to support Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students practising in rural and remote areas and to deliver local programs that support clinical placements and promote intra-professional collaboration and support. These local programs facilitate professional development and networking opportunities between Pharmacies, Pharmacy Departments, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Students, and university Pharmacy Schools. Examples of Program activities include:- Promoting rural pharmacy as a career choice
- Supporting and maintaining the rural pharmacy workforce
- Building networks within rural pharmacy communities
- Supporting local links between pharmacy and other health professionals
- Providing local support structures for Pharmacy Students undertaking clinical placements.