COVID-19 National Health Plan – Home Medicines Services information for consumers

The Home Medicines Service is available for people in home isolation and for vulnerable patient groups who wish to limit their potential exposure to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the community. This service supports the use of home medicines delivery options available through pharmacies enabling patients to have their Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) prescriptions delivered to their home. Who will benefit from this service? The service is available to: • people isolating themselves at home on the advice of a medical practitioner, for confirmed COVID-19 cases; • people who meet the current national triage protocol criteria for suspected COVID-19 infection after consultation with either the national COVID-19 hotline, state COVID-19 hotlines, a registered medical or nursing practitioner or COVID-19 trained health clinic triage staff; • people aged over 70; • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged over 50; • people with chronic health conditions or who are immunocompromised; • parents with new babies and people who are pregnant. If you are a resident in a residential aged care facility, you will be eligible to access this service, except where there is an existing contract in place to support the delivery of PBS medicines to residents in the facility. If you receive your PBS or RPBS medicines in a Dose Administration Aid, you will be eligible for this service. Speak to your prescriber or pharmacist if you are unsure. You can receive the service no more than once per month. When will I be able to access this service? The service commenced on 16 March 2020 and will be available for six months. Where will I be able to access this service? The service is available for home delivery of medicines from any pharmacy approved to dispense and supply PBS and RPBS medicines. Speak with your pharmacist if you are unsure.