AHA wins 6CPA contract

AUSTRALIAN Healthcare Associates (AHA) has been awarded a services agreement by the Australian Government to administer the 23 Community Pharmacy Programs funded under the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement (PD breaking news).

The contract includes Dose Administration Aids, Staged Supply, Home Medicines Reviews, RMMRs, MedsChecks, Diabetes MedsChecks, rural support programs, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support.

A competitive tender process managed by the Department of Health saw AHA take the contract from 01 Feb 2019, with most of the programs previously managed by the Pharmacy Guild since 2014.

The Guild also bid for the tender, through a newly created company which would have operated independently from the Guild.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia will be engaged by AHA to advise on and support the administration of the programs.

AHA Founding Director Richard Stock said, “Our aim is to build on the committed work of the Guild which has administered these programs over many years, to ensure professional and efficient payment for services to pharmacies and other stakeholders.”

AHA currently administers the Community Service Obligation (CSO) Funding Pool and the Chemotherapy Compounding Payment Scheme on behalf of the Department of Health.

PSA President Dr Shane Jackson said the society would provide subject matter know-how to assist AHA to ensure program administration is efficient and effective for pharmacies.

The Guild said it was proud of the work of its staff “who have worked and continue to work tirelessly in administering the program.

“We are committed to doing everything we can to help facilitate a smooth transition to AHA.”

AHA will manage the 6CA programs under the name Pharmacy Programs Administrator (branding logo is pictured) adding it would establish a support centre and website early in 2019.