Resources and useful links
the Program
The Australian Government's Closing the Gap Chronic Disease Program consists of the following:
- Identification and recording Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Island status
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Assessment Check (MBS Item 715)
- Follow-up Allied Health Services
- Indigenous Practice Incentive Program (PIP)
- PBS Co Payment Measure
- Follow-up services provided by Practice Nurse or registered Aboriginal Health Worker
- Chronic Disease Management Items (GPMP/TCA)
Islander Status
The Australian Government has established best practice guidelines for collecting and recording accurate information on the Indigenous status of patients. In information outlined below provides standardised questions for identifying Indigenous status, recommendations for supporting the implementation of the guidelines and data quality assurance.
The following question should be asked of all clients to establish their Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander or non-Indigenous status:
'Are you [is the person] of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin?'
The three standard response options are:
- No
- Yes, Aboriginal
- Yes, Torres Strait Islander
For patients of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin, both 'Yes' boxes should be marked.
Alternatively, a fourth response category may also be included if this better suits the data collection practices of the agency or establishment concerned:
- Yes, both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
If the question has not been completed on a returned form, this should be followed up and confirmed with the client.
Health assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People – MBS Item 715
Medical practitioners providing a health assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should use MBS Item 715. This MBS health assessment item has no designated time or complexity requirements. The length of the health assessment will be at the medical practitioner's discretion. MBS Item 715 should be used for health assessments for the following age groups:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who are less than 15 years old
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults who are aged 15 years and over but under the age of 55 years
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander older people who are aged 55 years and over
- Healthy Kids Check provided by a practice nurse or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner – MBS Item 1098
The MBS health assessment for a Healthy Kids Check provided by a practice nurse or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner on behalf of a medical practitioner is provided under MBS Item 10986.
NACCHO guide to a Preventative health assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
MBS Item 715 (Health Assessment) Factsheet - Health Assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People (MBS ITEM 715)
Health Assessment Proformas:
Available to any Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander patient who has received a health check, and the need for allied health services was identified. Maximum 5 services per year.
Includes:
- Aboriginal Health Worker
- Diabetes Education
- Audiology
- Podiatry
- Exercise Physiology
- Chiropractic
- Dietetics
- Osteopathy
- Mental Health Worker
- Psychology
- Occupational Therapy
- Speech Pathology
- Physiotherapy
Referral to Allied Health for Follow Up Services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Factsheet
Follow-up Allied Health Services for People of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Descent (MBS Items 81300-81360) Fact Sheet
Referral to Allied Health Template
Indigenous follow up referral form
Measure
Practices participating in the incentive will also have increased access to supporting health services for their patients.
More information on the PIP Indigenous Health Incentive can be accessed at:
The PBS Co-payment Measure is a response to identifying that cost is a significant barrier to accessing medicines for Aboriginal people. Additional information on the Measure is available at:
PBS Co Payment measure
Forms and templates for the PIP Indigenous Health Incentive and PBS Co-Payment Measure:
- PIP IHI Practice Register Authority Form
- IHI and PBS Co Payment Measure Patient Registration and Consent Form
- IHI and PBS Co Payment Measure Patient Registration and Consent Form (multiple registration)
- IHI and PBS Co Payment Measure Withdrawal of Consent Form
- PIP IHI and PBS Co Payment Measure Practice Application Form
There are several resources available to assist organisations such as General Practices to assess whether their service is culturally sensitive. has collated these resources and has made them available to interested GPs and Practices.
These resources include:
- Cultural Awareness Self-Assessment Toolkit - ACT Council of Social Service Inc
- Working with Aboriginal people and communities: Health and community services audit - Making Two Worlds Work
- Working with Aboriginal people [PDF, 1,738Kb]
- Online teaching video resource aimed at assisting health professionals to improve their communication with Aboriginal patients
- Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW
- National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
- Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
- Koori Mail
- pdf Steps to MBS Claiming pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Patients (308 KB)
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health assessments - barriers to improving uptake. Kehoe, H., Lovett, R. W. 2008
- RACGP Position Statement - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. May 2010.
- A healed and healthy country: understanding healing for Indigenous Australians. Tamara Mackean, 2009.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2010 report. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2010.
- Indigenous Health Snapshot 2012
- Closing the Gap website
- Closing the Gap - Progress and priorities report 2016
- A role for general practice - RACGP review