Speak Out December 2018

Aged care

SPOTLIGHT ON DVA Improved Dental and Allied Health budget measure

As previously mentioned in Speak Out , the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) have announced changes to the way Allied Health service delivery will be accessed after July 2019. Under these reforms, GP referrals to Speech Pathology will now last for up to 12 sessions of allied health therapy deemed to be clinically relevant for the client. A report back to the GP will then be required, and the GP will then determine if a referral for a further 12 sessions is warranted. There is no limit to the number of blocks of treatment that the GP can refer for, as long as reports are provided and ongoing need clinically justified. Further information on this initiative can be found here: www. dva.gov.au/providers/improved-dental-and-allied-health- provider-information Veterans’ Mates program: MEDICINES THAT CAUSE DRY MOUTH Since 2004, DVA has funded the Veterans’ Medicines Advice and Therapeutics Education Services (Veterans’ MATES) program to improve the health of veterans by providing up-to-date health and medicines information specifically tailored for members of the veteran community and their healthcare team. These information sheets are typically sent to all GPs and other medical healthcare providers who are primary providers for targeted veterans. SPA became aware that the upcoming edition focussed on medications that cause dry mouth, and has obtained access to this information for members who may find this information useful. Here is a brief introduction and link to this information: An analysis of the Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) health claims data identified that there are approximately 50,000 veterans dispensed medicines that can cause dry mouth. Despite being eligible for a DVA funded annual dental check-up, over half of the veterans dispensed these medicines had not had a claim for a DVA funded dental service in a two-year period. Therefore, the latest release of the DVA Veterans’ MATES program will be raising awareness of the medicines that can cause dry mouth and the subsequent implications on oral health. Established in 2004, the Veterans’ Medicines Advice and Therapeutics Education Services (Veterans’ MATES) program has improved the health of veterans by providing up-to-date health and medicines information specifically tailored for members of the veteran community and their healthcare team. More than 80% of health professionals who have given feedback on this national program, said they found Veterans’ MATES useful. As this topic focuses on oral health, it highlights the speech pathology services that are available for eligible DVA patients which might be helpful for patients with dry mouth who are experiencing speech and swallowing difficulties. The peer reviewed educational materials includes a therapeutic brief which encourages health professionals to consider whether a patient might have medicine-induced dry mouth and whether changes Veterans’ MATES put the spotlight on medicines that can cause dry mouth

could be made to their medicines to alleviate their symptoms. In addition, DVA patients who have been dispensed medicines that can cause dry mouth will receive a consumer brochure which encourages them to talk to their dentist, GP and pharmacist about their oral health. It also educates patients about the benefits of good oral hygiene, diet, and lifestyle in managing the symptoms of dry mouth. These materials will be distributed late November 2018 to GPs who are the primary providers for targeted veterans, dentists who provide services to DVA patients, as well as to pharmacists. Targeted veterans will receive the information in January 2019. The materials are available to download from the Veterans’ MATES website at www.veteransmates.net.au/topic-53

Therapeutic Brief

www.veteransmates.net.au

November 2018

Reducing the impact of medicine-induced dry mouth Having a dry mouth from the use of medicines is common, particularly among older people. 1-4 If left untreated, dry mouth can interfere with oral health and function, affect general health and significantly impair quality of life. 4-6 In 2017 the World Workshop on Oral Medicine VI documented a list of medicines that affect salivary gland function. 7

Inside

This therapeutic brief focuses on medicines with strong evidence that cause salivary gland hypofunction (objectively measured decreased saliva) and xerostomia (subjective feeling of having a dry mouth) based on theWorldWorkshop on Oral Medicine’s list. The brief outlines strategies to reduce the impact of medicine-induced dry mouth.

Key points MostDVApatientsareeligible to receivea fundedannual dental check-up Encouragepatientswithdry mouth to seekadvice from theirdentist tohelpalleviate symptomsandavoidpotential long-termeffects Reviewmedicines that causedrymouthand,where possible, consider reducing thedose, changing thedosing time, stoppingor changing themedicine Encourage yourpatients tohavea dentalcheck-up Askyourpatient if theyhavedrymouth Reviewmedicines thatcause drymouth • Aguide to reducing the impactof medicine-induceddrymouth Talk toyourpatientsaboutwhat they cando to reducedrymouth • Oralhealth • Dietand lifestyle • Resources forpatients

An estimated 50,000 DVA patients were dispensed medicines that can cause dry mouth*

73%

22%

5%

73%weredispensed onemedicine thatcan causedrymouth

22%weredispensed twomedicines that cancausedrymouth

5%weredispensed threemedicines that cancausedrymouth

*Medicinesare those included in theWorldWorkshoponOralMedicine’s listcategorisedwitha strong levelofevidence.

The majority of DVA patients dispensed medicines that can cause dry mouth were aged 80 years or over

5% <1%

Aged 80 years or older 61-80 years 41-60 years ≤40 years

37%

57%

Reducing the impactofmedicine-induceddrymouth (November2018)

Veterans’MedicinesAdvice and Therapeutics EducationServices

REMINDER – don’t forget to check out the latest resources for free download from the Speech Pathology Australia Ageing and Aged Care page on the website: www. speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/SPAweb/Resources_for_ Speech_Pathologists/Ageing_and_Aged_Care/Ageing_and_ Aged_Care.aspx As always, feel free to contact national office at any time for further details.

Kym Toressi National Aged Care Advisor

13

December 2018 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

Speak Out