The government has hinted that Medicare funded health checks for three-year-olds could be reintroduced, in a move welcomed by GPs.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler raised the topic last week while announcing major reforms to the NDIS which would see children with autism supported through a foundational support program rather than the NDIS.
The move has prompted concern that children with developmental concerns, like autism, may not get the appropriate support and services they need.
In a bid to address this, Mr Butler acknowledged the RACGP’s longstanding advocacy for early childhood health assessments and their vital role in identifying developmental concerns at a critical stage.
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“We will examine the creation of a new Medicare item for bulk billed three-year-old health checks to pick up any developmental concerns at that crucial age for referral for appropriate support,” he said.
“The College of General Practitioners has been calling for some years for a child development check like this to be re-established because they worked.
“Where these checks find that kids need additional supports, we will look at providing access to new Medicare allied health items.”
The RACGP welcomed the move and said it marked a significant step forward in ensuring equitable access to essential health services for young children.
President Dr Might Wright said: “Making sure these health checks are funded through the MBS really matters.
“The early years of a child’s life are when so much of their future is shaped. What happens during that time doesn’t just affect childhood, it can and does influence their entire life.
“Patients deserve to have potential issues identified and managed as early as possible, without cost or access acting as a deterrent.”
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Health checks for three-year-olds were in place from 2008 but were scrapped in 2015 by the then Abbott government which cited underperformance, cost blowouts and duplication of state and territory programs for the decision.
About half of all three-year-olds made the most of the checks in that last year they were funded.
A Medical Journal of Australia article at the time noted that while the checkups, known as Healthy Kids Checkups (HKC), found lower than expected prevalence for some childhood conditions such as overweight and oral health problems, significant numbers of children could benefit from the program.
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“By scrapping the HKC, not only are we reducing the chances of identifying problems earlier, but we are effectively reducing the capacity of general practice to promote the health and development of young children, the most vulnerable in our population, who stand to gain the most over the course of their lifetime. This is a retrograde step for Australia’s future.”
Its authors, GP’s Karyn Alexander and Danielle Mazza wrote that their research indicated that in some circumstances the HKC had acted as a catalyst for general practitioner and practice nurse role development, and in some cases promoted an entire practice shift towards preventive health care for young children.
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