Resources and useful links

Closing the Gap Chronic Disease Package - Components of
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)

Identification and recording Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait
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 assessments

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:

Follow-Up Allied Health Services (Items 81300-81360)

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

PIP Indigenous Health Incentive and PBS Co Payment
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:

Indigenous Health Incentive Guidelines

pdf Primary Health Services Toolkit: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Initiatives (862 KB)

pdf GP Readiness checklist for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (135 KB)

PBS Co-payment Measure

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:

Cultural Awareness Training

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: