NEW HEALTHY KIDS CHECK FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS STARTS NOW: WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW
If you have a three-year-old at home, there is a new Medicare check you will want to know about.
The Medicare Healthy Kids Check started on 1 November, giving every three-year-old in Australia a dedicated developmental check with their GP.
It is part of the federal government's Thriving Kids initiative, and it is designed to pick up developmental concerns early, while there is still plenty of time to help.
What Is The Healthy Kids Check?
The check is a one-off appointment for children aged three, and each child can have it once in their lifetime.
It is delivered by GPs, according to the Australian Medical Association.
During the appointment, the doctor looks at your child's medical history, behaviour, relationships, toileting, sleep and lifestyle, and compares their progress with typical milestones.
The GP will also ask about family and social circumstances and do a basic physical examination.
Afterwards, parents are offered a written report with any recommended next steps, which might include a referral to a speech pathologist or a suggestion to join a playgroup.
Why Age Three Matters
Most of the big developmental milestones are expected in the first three years of life.
According to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, more than one in five children have at least one developmental vulnerability by the age of three.
Picking these up early gives families more time to get support before school starts.
GP Dr Tim Jones, who helped design the check, told the ABC it should help find children whose needs are not obvious.
The new check also fills a gap left in 2015, when a Medicare health check for four-year-olds was scrapped.
Will The Healthy Kids Check Be Bulk Billed?
This is the question most parents are asking.
Bulk billing is not guaranteed, although the government says it will support practices to bulk bill through existing incentives.
The check is billed under existing Medicare health assessment items, which are based on how long the appointment takes.
Independent MP and paediatrician Dr Monique Ryan has called for parents to have certainty that it will be bulk billed.
Until then, the simplest approach is to ask your clinic about any out-of-pocket cost when you book.
What Experts Are Saying
Health groups have broadly welcomed the check but have raised some concerns.
Some experts had recommended that nurses and allied health workers should also be able to deliver it, but the government has kept it with GPs.
Dr Niroshini Kennedy, from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, warned that screening "shouldn't be the beginning of a lengthy wait" for help.
The AMA wants sustainable funding, faster referral pathways and fair access for families in rural areas and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Children who are eligible for other checks, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health checks, can still access those too.
Tips For Booking Your Child's Check
Ask for a longer appointment when you book, so nobody feels rushed.
Bring your child's health record book and jot down any questions or worries beforehand, however small they seem.
Think about how your child talks, plays, sleeps and gets along with others, as these are the areas the GP will ask about.
Try to book at a time of day when your little one is usually rested and happy.
Pack a favourite toy or a snack, as a calm and comfortable child will give the GP a better picture of how they really are.
If your child sees more than one carer, such as grandparents or educators, ask them beforehand whether they have noticed anything worth mentioning.
You can find more information on the Medicare Benefits Schedule fact sheet.
If you are ever worried about your child's development, you don't need to wait for this check, so talk to your GP or child health nurse at any time.
