Part of the Government’s Thriving Kids initiative · billed with the existing items 701–707 (GP) and 224–227 (prescribed medical practitioner).
The Medicare Healthy Kids Check is a once-per-child (lifetime) health assessment for Medicare-eligible 3-year-olds, billed with the existing time-tiered items — 701–707 for GPs and 224–227 for prescribed medical practitioners. There are no new items, and the Budget sheet states no changes to descriptors, fees, bulk billing incentives, Extended Medicare Safety Net or co-claiming restrictions.
GP — items 701–707
| Item | Time | Fee (100% rebate) |
|---|---|---|
| 701 | Brief — not more than 30 min | $71.00 |
| 703 | Standard — more than 30 to under 45 min | $165.05 |
| 705 | Long — at least 45 to under 60 min | $227.75 |
| 707 | Prolonged — at least 60 min | $321.75 |
Prescribed medical practitioner (PMP) — items 224–227
| Item | Time | Fee (100% rebate) |
|---|---|---|
| 224 | Brief — not more than 30 min | $56.85 |
| 225 | Standard — more than 30 to under 45 min | $132.05 |
| 226 | Long — at least 45 to under 60 min | $182.15 |
| 227 | Prolonged — at least 60 min | $257.40 |
Figures are July 2026 MBS schedule fees (indexed each 1 July). The item is chosen by time spent, and the service must meet the descriptor and the required components below. Time bands and descriptors verified against the MBS data file effective 1 November 2026. Source for the item structure: MBS note AN.0.36.
The descriptor says the assessment must include, but is not limited to, the activities below (MBS Online factsheet). Tick each as you document it; the note you copy lists component headings only — it contains no clinical content or patient identifiers.
Practitioners may use publicly available, evidence-based guidelines when conducting the assessment. Further reading: “A guide to the 3-year-old health check for general practice” (AJGP, September 2026) ↗.
Enter the child’s date of birth and the planned visit date. “3-year-old” is read here as aged 3: from the 3rd birthday to the day before the 4th — the sources say “3-year-old” but we have not seen the descriptor’s exact wording, so confirm it on MBS Online. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.
Illustrative arithmetic only: how much appointment time a number of assessments needs, and the schedule fee at the tier that time falls in. Item choice must reflect the time actually spent and the service actually provided — this is not billing advice.
Billing-knowledge items only. Your ticks are saved on this device (nothing is sent anywhere).
No. Items 224–227 are the existing time-tiered health assessment items for prescribed medical practitioners, and 701–707 are the equivalent GP items. From 1 November 2026 Medicare-eligible 3-year-olds join the eligible group for the Medicare Healthy Kids Check; there are no new items. The Services Australia Budget sheet states no changes to descriptors, fees, bulk billing incentives, the Extended Medicare Safety Net or co-claiming restrictions.
The planned start is 1 November 2026. MBS Online’s factsheet (28 August 2026) says it is subject to the passage of legislation. MBS Online’s November 2026 News (updated 1 October 2026) says it will be introduced from 1 November 2026. Confirm on MBS Online before claiming.
Once per child per lifetime, for Medicare-eligible 3-year-olds.
The existing time-tiered items: 701 (not more than 30 minutes), 703 (30 to under 45), 705 (45 to under 60) and 707 (60 minutes or more) for GPs, and 224 to 227 for prescribed medical practitioners. The service must include the required components and the item reflects the time spent. Per the 1 November 2026 MBS schedule, 701 is “not more than 30 minutes”, 703 “more than 30 minutes but less than 45”, 705 “at least 45 minutes but less than 60” and 707 “at least 60 minutes” — so exactly 30 minutes is item 701 and exactly 60 minutes is item 707.
Children aged under 3 or over 4, and 3-year-olds who need more than one assessment, can continue to use the standard MBS time-tiered attendance items (MBS Online factsheet).
A child who is eligible for another health assessment service, such as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health check, can still access it in addition to the Healthy Kids Check, provided each service is clinically relevant (MBS Online factsheet). Children under 3 years or over 4 years who need an assessment, and 3-year-olds who need more than one assessment, can continue to use the time-tiered attendance items (MBS Online factsheet, 28 August 2026).
At least a history (medical history, behaviour and wellbeing, developmental milestones, family and care circumstances, nutrition, physical activity, screen use and sleep, toileting), a basic physical examination (eyesight, hearing, oral health, height and weight with BMI), an assessment, advice to the parent or carer, any necessary interventions or referrals, a record in the medical record, and an offered written report with recommendations.
The Budget measure says it will be recognised as an acceptable health check for the Healthy Start for School requirements for Family Tax Benefit Part A (Services Australia, 12 May 2026).
Billing reference, not clinical advice. Confirm item descriptors and fees against the current MBS before claiming. Status as at 1 October 2026 — MBS Online describes the start as subject to legislation.