Advocacy
In a first for the pharmacy profession, the CPAA is an industry advocacy body designed specifically to represent and support the interests of Credentialed Pharmacists and the consumers and care provider clients that we serve.
Our sole focus is to enhance the integrity, quality, and sustainability of the HMR, RMMR and ACOP programs. In doing so, we advocate for priority areas such as appropriate service funding models and the underpinning Program Rules.
We desire to work closely with the Department, Government, consumer advocacy groups, aged care industry bodies and our respective colleagues in the pharmacy space (retail, hospital, and professional bodies).
Our priority policy advocacy efforts are presently targeted to:
- An opportunity to participate in the 8CPA (and future CPAs) and support negotiations that result in a fair and appropriate outcome for Credentialed Pharmacists and our patients and clients in the delivery of high-value HMR, RMMR, QUM and Aged Care Onsite Pharmacist (ACOP) services.
- Assisting the Department and Government with policy and service design that aligns with the intention to transition the pharmacy sector towards a higher focus on professional services delivery.
- Advise on Program safeguards to ensure that clinical services are delivered in a manner that promotes Credentialed Pharmacist independence and freedom to operate without any actual or perceived conflict of interest.
- Ensure that ACOP services are clinical in nature and distinct from the separate supply pharmacy functions.
- Promoting policy that supports consumer choice and person-centred medication management, including removing or raising the monthly HMR cap and advocating for flexibility with professional services remuneration pathways (e.g. assigning MBS Provider status to Credentialed Pharmacists).
- Ensuring recommendations from the aged care Royal Commission related to onsite pharmacist and medication review services are appropriately interpreted and implemented by policy makers and the sector.
- Advising on Program Rules that mitigate the risk of sub-optimal service delivery, including advocating for a requirement that any approved ACOP service or HMR/RMMR/QUM Service Provider has no pecuniary interests from non-pharmacists or non-pharmacist-controlled entities.
- Advocating for a new ‘QUM’ Service style funding arrangement to support the safe and quality use of medicines for home care service organisations and disability care providers. Funding should be aligned with existing residential QUM arrangements.
- Supporting pathways for Credentialed Pharmacists to operate to the top of their present and future scope of practice, including the potential for high-impact aged care antimicrobial and psychotropic stewardship activities related to pharmacist prescribing.
Your membership with the CPAA gives provides a voice and a long-overdue ‘seat at the table’ on decisions that affect the livelihoods and professional roles of Credentialed Pharmacists.