The number and proportion of First Nation people who had a First Nations-specific health assessment: Measure 2.1.1
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All First Nations people, regardless of age, are eligible for a First Nations-specific health assessment which should include an eye health check.
This measure includes in-person health assessments (Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item 715 or 228), and assessments provided via videoconference or teleconference (MBS item 92004, 92011, 92016, 92023). Note that MBS items 92016 and 92023 were removed from the MBS as of 1 July 2021.
Latest data
In 2023–24, just over one-quarter (259,941 or 25%) of First Nations people had a health assessment. This included over 2,600 health assessments provided via videoconference or teleconference (figure 13).
Figure 13: Annual health assessments, 2022–23 and 2023–24
Two barcharts showing number and rates for 2022-23 and 2023-24. See link to data tables at the bottom of this page for details.
Notes
- 'MBS health assessment' includes MBS items 715 and 228.
- Includes telehealth assessments (items 92004, 92011, 92016 and 92023).
- Counts have been adjusted to avoid double counting patients across age groupings, geographical classifications and assessment types.
- Data reported by date of service.
Source: AIHW analysis of Medical Benefits Schedule data.
Explore more aspects of the data in the following section. See also Figure 14.
By remoteness
In 2023–24, the proportion of First Nations people who had a health assessment was highest in Outer regional and Remote areas (around 31% in both cases); it was around 22% in Major cities, 24% in Inner regional areas and 26% in Very Remote areas (Figure 14 – remoteness).
By jurisdiction
In 2023–24, the proportion of First Nations people who had a health assessment was highest in Queensland and the Northern Territory (both around 30%) , (Figure 14 – jurisdiction).
By age and sex
In 2023–24, the number and proportion of First Nations males aged 0–14 who had a health assessment was slightly higher than the number and proportion of females of the same age–40,657 (24%) and 35,810 (22%), respectively. For all other age groups, health assessments for First Nations females outnumbered those for First Nations males (Figure 14 – population groups).
By Primary Health Network
In 2023–24, the PHNs with the highest proportion of First Nations people who had a health assessment were Darling Downs and West Moreton (33%) and Brisbane South and Northern Queensland (both just under 33%) (Figure 14 – geography).
Time trend
The age-specific proportion of First Nations people who had a health assessment was between 20% and 24% in 2016–17 for age groups 44 years and under, it increased to between 20% and 25% for the same age groups in 2023–24. The proportion of First Nations people in all age groups aged 45 and over who had a health assessment rose from between 27% and 32% in 2016–17 to between 29% and 38% in 2023–24 (Figure 14 – time trend).
The age-standardised proportion of First Nations people who had a health assessment (including a telehealth assessment) grew from 24% (211,511 patients) in 2016–17 to 27% (259,941 patients) in 2023–24 (Figure 14 – time trend).
Figure 14: Annual health assessments: interactive data
See link to data tables following this image.
Downloadable data tables are available on Data.