Notes on the data: MBS services

Annual health assessments provided by GPs to persons aged 75 years and over, 2009/10

Note that although these data are several years old, they have been retained in the atlases as the only small area data available for this topic. Efforts continue to get access to more up-to-date data.

Policy context: The Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) program was introduced to provide more preventive care for older Australians and improve coordination of care for people with chronic conditions and complex care needs.The EPC items here are for those aged 75 years and over, and refer to an annual in-depth assessment by GPs of an older patient's physical, psychological and social health status [1]. A health assessment can be conducted at the GP's surgery or in the patient's home.

Separate EPC items allow health assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 55 years and over. However, the numbers were too small to be included here, indicating a disappointingly poor uptake of this initiative.

Reference

Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA). Enhanced Primary Care Program overview. Canberra: DoHA; 2008.

Notes: MBS Item No: 700, 702

Data exclude any such services provided by the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Numerator: Non-referred attendances for GP services for Annual health assessments, persons aged 75 years and over

Denominator: Population aged 75 years and over

Detail of analysis: Indirectly age-standardised rate per 100,000 population (aged 75 years and over); and/or indirectly age-standardised ratio, based on the Australian standard

Source: Compiled by PHIDU based on data from Medicare Australia, supplied by the Department of Health of Ageing, 2009/10; and average of ABS Estimated Resident Population, 30 June 2009 and 30 June 2010.