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In April 2003, three new Professional Practice Standards were included in the QCPP.

Two of the Standards relate to the provision of a methadone service and a needle and syringe program. The third Standard relates to the provision of a medication assistance service.

PPS-15, Medication Assistance Service, is classified as a mandatory Standard if such a service is provided. That means that if the service is provided all of the "Actions Required" in the Standard need to be satisfied in order for the Standard to be met, and QCPP accreditation will be be granted unless the Standard has been met.

Since early 2002, MBF has been reimbursing its members for the costs being provided with a medication assistance service, so those pharmacies that provide the service for MBF members have already been operating in accordance with the Standard for some time.

PPS-16, Methadone Service, and PPS-17, Needle and Syringe Program, are both classified as "elective" Standards. That means that pharmacies may elect to be assessed against either of the Standards and, if they do so elect, the Standards form part of the scoring for accreditation. The Standards are now part of a group of five Standards that are classified as elective.

These three Standards are Professional Practice Standards. The PSA versions of the Standards are contained in the PSA publication "Professional Practice Standards 2002", which is available from the QCP Division of direct from the PSA. The cost of the publication is $38.50, including GST. Both the PSA versions and the QCPP versions are also included on this website under the section Professional Resources. If any of these Standards apply to your pharmacy, you will need copies of the PSA version to assist you in implementation and determining whether the requirements have been met. At a minimum, download the documents from the QCPP website.

The new Standards were formally incorporated into the QCPP from 1 April 2003, and assessments commenced against the Standards on 1 July 2003.