MBS Items 701, 703, 705 and 707 may be used to undertake a health assessment for the following target groups:
| Target Group |
Frequency of Service |
A type 2 diabetes risk evaluation for people aged 40-49 years (inclusive) with a high risk of
developing type 2 diabetes as determined by the Australian Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment Tool |
Once every three years to an eligible patient |
| A health assessment for people aged 45-49 years (inclusive) who are at risk of developing chronic disease |
Once only to an eligible patient |
| A health assessment for people aged 75 years and older |
Provided annually to an eligible patient |
| A comprehensive medical assessment for permanent residents of residential aged care facilities |
Provided annually to an eligible patient |
| A health assessment for people with an intellectual disability |
Provided annually to an eligible patient |
| A health assessment for refugees and other humanitarian entrants |
Once only to an eligible patient |
| A health assessment for former serving members of the Australian Defence Force |
Once only to an eligible patient |
A health assessment means the assessment of a patient's health and physical, psychological and social function and consideration of whether preventive health care and education should be offered to the patient, to improve that patient's health and physical, psychological and social function.
Health assessments are not available to people who are in-patients of a hospital or care recipients in a residential aged care facility (with the exception of a comprehensive medical assessment provided to a permanent resident of a residential aged care facility).
Before a health assessment is commenced, the patient (and/or the patient's parent(s), carer or representative, as appropriate) must be given an explanation of the health assessment process and its likely benefits. The patient must be asked whether they consent to the health assessment being performed. In cases where the patient is not capable of giving consent, consent must be given by the patient's parent(s), carer or representative. Consent to the health assessment must be noted in the patient's records.
A health assessment must include the following elements:
- information collection, including taking a patient history and undertaking or arranging examinations and investigations as required;
- making an overall assessment of the patient;
- recommending appropriate interventions;
- providing advice and information to the patient;
- keeping a record of the health assessment, and offering the patient a written report about the health assessment, with recommendations about matters covered by the health assessment; and
- offering the patient's carer (if any, and if the general practitioner considers it appropriate and the patient agrees) a copy of the report or extracts of the report relevant to the carer.
A health assessment may only be claimed by a general practitioner.
A health assessment should generally be undertaken by the patient's 'usual doctor'. For the purpose of the health assessment items, 'usual doctor' means the general practitioner, or a general practitioner working in the medical practice, which has provided the majority of primary health care to the patient over the previous twelve months and/or will be providing the majority of care to the patient over the next twelve months.
A health assessment should not take the form of a health screening service.
A copy of the Health Assessment must be retained for a period of 2 years after the date of service.
MBS health assessment items 701, 703, 705, 707 must be provided by a general practitioner personally attending upon a patient. Suitably qualified health professionals, such as practice nurses or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners, employed and/or otherwise engaged by a general practice or health service, may assist general practitioners in performing health assessments. Such assistance must be provided in accordance with accepted medical practice and under the supervision of the general practitioner. This may include activities associated with:
- information collection; and
- providing patients with information about recommended interventions at the direction of the general practitioner.
The general practitioner should be satisfied that the assisting health professional has the necessary skills, expertise and training to collect the information required for the health assessment.
General practitioners should not conduct a separate consultation for another health-related issue in conjunction with a health assessment unless it is clinically necessary (ie. the patient has an acute problem that needs to be managed separately from the assessment). The only exception is the comprehensive medical assessment, where, if this health assessment is undertaken during the course of a consultation for another purpose, the health assessment item and the relevant item for the other consultation may both be claimed.
Items 701, 703, 705 and 707 do not apply for services that are provided by any other Commonwealth or State funded services. However, where an exemption under subsection 19(2) of the Health Insurance Act 1973 has been granted to an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service or State/Territory Government health clinic, items 701, 703, 705 and 707 can be claimed for services provided by general practitioners salaried by or contracted to, the Service or health clinic. All other requirements of the items must be met.
Item 10990 or 10991 (bulk billing incentives) can be claimed in conjunction with any health assessment, provided the conditions of item 10990 and 10991 are satisfied.
