MedsCheck

The MedsCheck program is a one-on-one interview between the pharmacist and the patient to review the patient’s prescription and non-prescription medications. The MedsCheck medication review will encourage patients to better understand their medication therapy and help to ensure their medications are taken as prescribed and that patients are getting the most benefit from their medications.

Patient Eligibility

• Patient must be an Ontario resident with a valid Ontario Health Card and currently taking a minimum of 3 prescription medications for a chronic condition.
• Patient must agree to the MedsCheck service; the MedsCheck program is voluntary.
• Patients are eligible for one MedsCheck Annual per year from the date of the original review.
• Patients are eligible for a MedsCheck Follow-Up within the annual time-frame under the following criteria:
  1. A patient is discharged from the hospital within the previous 2 weeks
  2. A pharmacist’s documented decision based on:
     1. Significant changes made to an existing medication profile or the addition of new medication
     2. Documented evidence of patient non-compliance
     3. Patient has changed their place of residence and has transferred their prescriptions to a different pharmacy
  3. A referral from a physician (MD) or a nurse practitioner (NP)
  4. A planned hospital admission

Note: Pharmacists must obtain a copy of the original MedsCheck if it was not conducted at their pharmacy. If not able to obtain a copy, a reason must be documented.

Conducting the MedsCheck

• It is recommended that an appointment be scheduled for the consultation and it must be conducted in an acoustically private area of the pharmacy.
• The in-person MedsCheck consultation will be approximately 20 – 30 minutes. Preparation time will be in addition to that.
• A pharmacist in part A of the OCP registry or a registered pharmacy intern / registered pharmacy student under the direction of the pharmacist may conduct the in-person MedsCheck interview
• A pharmacy technician may play a non-clinical role in managing patient appointments; gathering, collecting, and preparing patient information; and other administrative duties such as filing and record keeping management of MedsCheck review lists and supporting documentation.

MedsCheck Medication Review List

• Patients will be provided with a comprehensive drug review list that is dated and authorized with the pharmacist’s and the patient’s signatures; the review list is important when patient’s interact with other health care providers.
• A copy of the signed review list and supporting documents including  MD/NP referrals, hospital discharge / admission information and pharmacist’s documentation on decisions to conduct a MedsCheck Follow-Up are kept on file at the pharmacy for not less than two years for audit purposes.

Claim for Payment

The MedsCheck program is paid for by the Ontario Government through the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) Health Network System. Claims submissions occur on the day the MedsCheck service is conducted and after the patient receives a medication review list signed and dated by both the pharmacist and the patient.

• MedsCheck Annual: $60
• MedsCheck Follow-up: $25

MedsCheck Expanded Programs

Effective September 13, 2010, Ontario added three new services to the MedsCheck program:

• MedsCheck for Ontarians living with Diabetes
• MedsCheck at Home
• MedsCheck for Long Term Home Residents

Please refer to the MedsCheck Guidebook for more detailed information.

Document Download

Professional Pharmacy Services Guidebook 3.0  [PDF]

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