Medicare Benefits Schedule - Note AN.0.44

An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child health assessment must include:

1. a personal attendance by a general practitioner;
2. taking the patient's medical history, including the following:
   1. mother's pregnancy history;
   2. birth and neo-natal history:
   3. breastfeeding history;
   4. weaning, food access and dietary history;
   5. physical activity;
   6. previous presentations, hospital admissions and medication usage;
   7. relevant family medical history;
   8. immunisation status;
   9. vision and hearing (including neonatal hearing screening);
   10. development (including achievement of age appropriate milestones);
   11. family relationships, social circumstances and whether the person is cared for by another person;
   12. exposure to environmental factors (including tobacco smoke);
   13. environmental and living conditions;
   14. educational progress;
   15. stressful life events;
   16. mood (including incidence of depression and risk of self-harm);
   17. substance use;
   18. sexual and reproductive health; and
   19. dental hygiene (including access to dental services).
3. examination of the patient, including the following:
   1. measurement of height and weight to calculate body mass index and position on the growth curve;
   2. newborn baby check (if not previously completed);
   3. vision (including red reflex in a newborn);
   4. ear examination (including otoscopy);
   5. oral examination (including gums and dentition);
   6. trachoma check, if indicated;
   7. skin examination, if indicated;
   8. respiratory examination, if indicated;
   9. cardiac auscultation, if indicated;
   10. development assessment, if indicated, to determine whether age appropriate milestones have been achieved;
   11. assessment of parent and child interaction, if indicated; and
   12. other examinations in accordance with national or regional guidelines or specific regional needs, or as indicated by a previous child health assessment.
4. undertaking or arranging any required investigation, considering the need for the following tests, in particular:
   1. haemoglobin testing for those at a high risk of anaemia; and
   2. audiometry, if required, especially for those of school age
5. assessing the patient using the information gained in the child health check; and
6. making or arranging any necessary interventions and referrals, and documenting a simple strategy for the good health of the patient.

Related Items: 715

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Professional attendance by a general practitioner at consulting rooms or in another place other than a hospital or residential aged care facility, for a health assessment of a patient who is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent-not more than once in a 9 month period

Fee: $224.40 Benefit: 100% = $224.40

(See para AN.0.43, AN.0.44, AN.0.45, AN.0.46 of explanatory notes to this Category)