MBS 715 in practice: what the Aboriginal Health Assessment actually looks like, and why most clinics get it wrong

The MBS 715 item is misunderstood more often than any other Australian preventive health item. The misunderstanding is structural: many practices treat it as 'a long consult for an Aboriginal patient', billed at the higher rebate.

That's not what the item is. The 715 is a specific, structured assessment with required content elements, defined by RACGP. The structure matters. The cultural safety matters.

What the assessment must cover

• Comprehensive medical, family, and social history — including connection to country, kinship, and community where appropriate.
• Physical examination including BP, BMI, waist circumference, dental, hearing, and visual.
• Pathology — HbA1c, lipids, kidney function, STI screening as appropriate to age and risk.
• Mental health screening — K10 or similar, with cultural-appropriate adjustments.
• Immunisation review — including any catch-up needs.
• Lifestyle factors — smoking, alcohol, nutrition, physical activity.
• A written summary for the patient and a tailored preventive-care plan.

The cultural-safety dimension

A structured assessment is not a culturally-safe assessment by default. The questions about kinship, country, and community require permission, context, and relationship. Many ATSI patients have had decades of poorly-conducted health interactions — the bar for trust is high and the cost of breaking it is steep.

Where possible, the assessment is best done by, or in partnership with, an Aboriginal Health Practitioner or ACCHO. Where that's not possible, the GP must be explicit about the cultural-safety considerations and document the conversation.