ACOP model for Residential Aged Care

It is not mandatory for RACs or community pharmacies to participate. Where an ACOP is not engaged, there will continue to be funding for aged care residents and RACs to receive pharmacist support under the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) and Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) Pharmacy Programs. It is entirely up to the Aged Care Provider to determine which model of clinical pharmacist support is best for them and their residents.

• The credentialed aged care on-site pharmacist will:  
  be readily available to aged care staff and residents, building collaboration with the health care team, including general practitioners and community pharmacies.
• provide continuity in medication management, such as day-to-day monitoring of residents’ medication and solving medication related issues promptly.
• assist with medication management and communication during transitions of care.
• undertake whole of facility quality use of medicines activities, such as medicine use evaluations and implementation of changes identified in audits to improve the use of psychotropics, antimicrobials and other high-risk medications.
• advise, attend and report to the Medicines Advisory Committee (MAC) as part of governance and oversight in the residential aged care home, and help set up a MAC where one is not established.

There are two pathways through which a RACH can access an ACOP:

Pathway 1/Tier 1

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 RAC. Pharmacies will receive funding via monthly claims in the PPA Portal with PPA Portal registration.

A RAC and Section 90 pharmacy that have agreed to work together to participate in Tier 1 of the Measure must complete and sign a Service Authorisation. A RAC can only work with one pharmacy and have one active Service Authorisation. Community pharmacies must ensure that ACOPs do not start work at the RACH until the Service Authorisation is submitted via the PPA Portal and approved by the PPA.

Pathway 2/Tier 2 

Eligible RACs can engage ACOPs to work at the RAC. This option becomes available only if the RAC is unsuccessful in sourcing a credentialed pharmacist through at least one Section 90 community pharmacy (Tier 1).

To participate and claim in respect of Tier 2 of the ACOP Measure, eligible RACs must first create a Service Provider account in the PPA Portal by a RAC authorised employee. Once the Service Provider account has been submitted and approved, an application must be lodged with the PPA in the PPA Portal including:

A copy of the signed Tier 2 RACH Application Form (see template that must be used here) confirming that:

• The RACH meets all eligibility criteria as per the ACOP Measure Tier 2 Rules
• The RACH has been unsuccessful in sourcing an ACOP under Tier 1 of the Measure (i.e. approached or has been approached by at least one s90 community pharmacy but was not able to reach agreement to partner in respect of Tier 1 of the Measure). Details of the contact made will also be required.
• The RACH does not have RMMR, QUM Service Agreements or another ACOP Measure Service Authorisation in place; or has provided termination notices to other RMMR/QUM/ACOP Service Providers
• The on-site work will be undertaken by the ACOP in full or half day blocks and as per a regular work schedule, and
• Where the RAC is part of a corporate or not-for-profit group, that the RAC manager and a representative at the head office is aware that the facility is participating in the Measure has confirmed that the proposed arrangements meet all Measure eligibility requirements.

The RAC Application Form must be signed by the RAC manager and, where applicable, a head office representative.

RACs may approach a credentialed pharmacist directly to engage them to work on-site as an ACOP. They may also choose to engage an ACOP through a third-party organisation that can provide them with an ACOP.

Under either pathway, Pharmacies and RACs will need to determine the appropriate salary or hourly rates for their ACOPs based upon their individual circumstances including the manner in which they intend to engage the ACOP, for example:

• ACOPs employed as permanent employees will receive legislated leave entitlements and are likely to receive a lower hourly rate to recognise the periods for which they will be paid when not working. In determining the appropriate salary for a permanent employee, the pharmacy will need to consider the potential that the maximum payment amount is not received in any given year in circumstances where the employee takes one or more days of paid personal leave.
• ACOPs engaged as casual or contract workers may be able to be paid a higher hourly rate, reflecting the fact the ACOP may not be entitled to leave entitlements and may not be paid when taking annual leave or when absent due to illness.

Where a pharmacy or RAC agrees to engage an ACOP at a rate higher than the government funded amount, the additional payments to the ACOP (above the government funding provided) would be funded by the employer.

Payments to pharmacies/RACs can be claimed via the PPA Portal and are submitted as a single monthly claim for each RAC, based on the number of days an ACOP worked on-site at that RAC during the month. Claims in respect of each calendar month are made in arrears and must be submitted by the end of the following calendar month (i.e. ACOP days worked in July must be claimed between 1 and 31 August).

There is a maximum number of days that can be claimed in respect of a participating RAC, based upon that home’s bed numbers and corresponding ACOP FTE entitlement (see RAC Eligibility above). For example, in respect of a RAC eligible to receive 1.0 FTE ACOP, the partnering pharmacy can claim up to 228 on-site days per financial year. This reflects the maximum possible working days for a full-time employee taking into account an assumed 20 days of annual leave and a maximum of 13 public holidays.   

Community pharmacies/RACs will be paid $606.50 (plus GST) for each full day that an engaged ACOP is working on-site at a RACH. The payment is intended to cover the ACOP’s pay and on-costs.

Time travelling to/from a RACH, and transport or accommodation costs are not included in funding for the Measure.