A health check is the appointment that finds the thing you did not know about. Health Nexus offers every Medicare health assessment, and all of them are bulk billed – there is no out-of-pocket cost.
The assessments we offer
- Heart Health Check – for adults aged 45 and over (30 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people), assessing your risk of a heart attack or stroke over the next five years
- 45–49 year health assessment – a one-off check for people at risk of chronic disease
- 75 and over health assessment – an annual check of health, memory, mobility, medicines, continence, falls risk and home supports
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health assessment – available annually at any age
- Health assessments for people with an intellectual disability, and for refugees and humanitarian entrants
- Diabetes risk assessment and bowel, breast and cervical screening reminders
What happens at the appointment
Health assessments are longer than an ordinary consultation – allow 30 to 45 minutes. The practice nursing team usually starts with your measurements, history and questionnaires, then your doctor goes through the findings with you, orders any tests and writes down what happens next. Bring a list of your medicines, including anything you buy over the counter, and your glasses and hearing aids if you use them.
Afterwards
Anything that needs following up becomes a plan: a repeat blood test, a referral, a chronic disease management plan, a bone density referral, or simply a date to come back. Blood tests ordered on the day can usually be collected downstairs before you leave.
The doctors
Any of the doctors who work from Health Nexus can do a health assessment. These doctors do a lot of preventive health work:
- Dr Arsalan (Sam) Mahmud – preventive health, health assessments
- Dr Asim Razak – preventive health, chronic disease
- Dr John Esho – adult health, internal medicine
- Dr Nalika Hendawitharana – preventive health, women’s and children’s health
- Dr Sana Mahmud – preventive health, women’s health
- Dr Kamal Udawattage – preventive health, chronic disease
Fees and Medicare
Health Nexus Launceston is a mixed-billing practice. Children aged 12 and under are bulk billed whenever the practice is open, including evenings and weekends. Pension card holders over 65 and DVA Gold Card holders are bulk billed on weekdays between 8am and 5pm. Everyone else pays the consultation fee with the Medicare rebate claimed on the spot. The current fees are on the fees and bulk billing page.
The practice is open 8am–8pm Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm Saturday and 9am–5pm Sunday, every day of the year, and on every public holiday at the standard hours for that day.
Common questions
How much does a health check cost?
Medicare health assessments are bulk billed at Health Nexus, so there is no out-of-pocket cost.
How long does it take?
Allow 30 to 45 minutes. The practice nursing team does part of it and your doctor does the rest.
Who can have a 75+ health assessment?
Anyone aged 75 or over, once every 12 months.
What is a Heart Health Check?
A Medicare-funded assessment for adults aged 45 and over – 30 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – that calculates your risk of a heart attack or stroke in the next five years and sets out what to do about it.
Do I need to fast?
Not for the appointment itself. If your doctor orders a cholesterol or glucose blood test you may be asked to fast before the blood test – reception will tell you when you book.
