AIHW - Indigenous Health Check Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) Item 715 (PHN) 2012-2016

This dataset presents the footprint of the number and rate of Indigenous people who had a Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) item 715 health assessment by client location. The data spans the financial years 2012-2016 and is aggregated to 2015 Department of Health Primary Health Network (PHN) areas, based on the 2011 Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS).

The data is sourced from the Department of Health - Medicare Benefits Schedule data, which is a listing of Medicare services that are subsidised by the Australian Government. It is part of the Medicare program, managed by the Department of Health and administered by the Department of Human Services. Through the Medicare program, all Australian residents and certain categories of visitors to Australia are entitled to benefits for medical and hospital services. These benefits are based on fees determined for each service provided. These services are itemised, forming the schedule of fees. Statistics on each item are collected when benefits are claimed.

For further information about this dataset, visit the data source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare - Indigenous health check (MBS 715) Data Tables.

Please note:

• AURIN has spatially enabled the original data using the Department of Health - PHN Areas.

• Differences in usage rates across geographic levels should be interpreted with caution because the use of MBS 715 health checks is influenced by a number of factors which may vary by geographic areas.

• The Department of Human Services occasionally suppresses data for some geographical areas smaller than states and territories to ensure patient and provider confidentiality.