| Packaged Medications |
Tuesday, 19 September 2006 00:00 |
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I had an issue recently and am interested in whether others have come across it. My mother-in-law has been living in a hostel for about four years. Up until recently - she has been managing her own accounts etc, but is now finding it a bit much so I am now helping out. When we received her last pharmacy account, I noticed the pharmacy had charged a fee for packaging - now, as I work in aged care - I know that any fees for packaging must be met by the aged care facility...
Fortunately she still had all of her accounts from when she was admitted to the hostel (good old mum!!). I went through them & found that she had about $400 in fees applied to her account by the pharmacyover that time. Initially they told me that they were doing the correct thing (they are a huge company based in Qld - we are in Vict). I advised them that the Aged Care Act clearly stated that what i said was correct. After many months of tooing and froing, they admitted they were in the wrong & have repaid the outstanding fees. Sadly -I wonder how many other ACFs & pharmacies are taking money from the client in this manner. A note of interest! When i first contacted the Department of Health & Ageing to confirm what I thought was correct - the advisor supported the pharmacies information, until I directed her to the Aged Care Act!!! What hope - if even our ruling departments are misinforming our public !! FYI - links: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-manuals-rcm-rcmindx1.htm The particular information re medications is in Chapter 12 pgs 12:17 (2.4 Treatments and Procedures) and 12:29(3.10 Medications) Newer articles:
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