Medicare Benefits Schedule - Note AN.7.14

Last reviewed: 1 November 2023

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

a.     a personal attendance by a prescribed medical practitioner (see note AN.7.1);

b.    taking the patient's medical history, including the following:

i.      mother's pregnancy history;

ii.     birth and neo-natal history:

iii.    breastfeeding history;

iv.    weaning, food access and dietary history;

v.     physical activity;

vi.    previous presentations, hospital admissions and medication usage;

vii.   relevant family medical history;

viii.  immunisation status;

ix.    vision and hearing (including neonatal hearing screening);

x.     development (including achievement of age appropriate milestones);

xi.    family relationships, social circumstances and whether the person is cared for by another person;

xii.   exposure to environmental factors (including tobacco smoke);

xiii.  environmental and living conditions;

xiv. educational progress;

xv.  stressful life events;

xvi. mood (including incidence of depression and risk of self-harm);

xvii. substance use;

xviii. sexual and reproductive health; and

xix. dental hygiene (including access to dental services).

c.     examination of the patient, including the following:

i.      measurement of height and weight to calculate body mass index and position on the growth curve;

ii.     newborn baby check (if not previously completed);

iii.    vision (including red reflex in a newborn);

iv.    ear examination (including otoscopy);

v.     oral examination (including gums and dentition);

vi.    trachoma check, if indicated;

vii.   skin examination, if indicated;

viii.  respiratory examination, if indicated;

ix.    cardiac auscultation, if indicated;

x.     development assessment, if indicated, to determine whether age appropriate milestones have been achieved;

xi.    assessment of parent and child interaction, if indicated; and

xii.   other examinations in accordance with national or regional guidelines or specific regional needs, or as indicated by a previous child health assessment.

d.      undertaking or arranging any required investigation, considering the need for the following tests, in particular:

i.      haemoglobin testing for those at a high risk of anaemia; and

ii.     audiometry, if required, especially for those of school age

e.      assessing the patient using the information gained in the child health check; and

f.       making or arranging any necessary interventions and referrals, and documenting a simple strategy for the good health of the patient.

Related Items: 228

• Previous - Note AN.7.13
• Next - Note AN.7.15

Professional attendance by a prescribed medical practitioner at consulting rooms or in a place other than a hospital or a residential aged care facility, for a health assessment of a patient who is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent—applicable not more than once in a 9 month period and only if the following items are not applicable within the same 9 month period:
(a) item 715;
(b) item 92004 or 92011 of the Telehealth and Telephone Determination

Fee: $186.90 Benefit: 100% = $186.90

(See para AN.7.1, AN.7.13, AN.7.14, AN.7.15, AN.7.16 of explanatory notes to this Category)