MBS item 10987: Nurse or ATSIHP follow-up after Indigenous health check

What to check before you bill item 10987

Each line links to the MBS passage it comes from.

• In person (the video and phone versions are separate items) MN.12.3
• Given by a practice nurse (including a nurse practitioner working as one) or an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner Item 10987
• The patient identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander MN.12.3
• Not an admitted hospital patient Item 10987
• Has had a health assessment (time-tiered or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) that identified a need for follow-up MN.12.3
• The service addresses needs found in the patient’s health assessment Item 10987
• The nurse gave a follow-up service of their own, not help with the health assessment MN.12.3
• Given on your behalf and under your supervision Item 10987
• The nurse or health practitioner is qualified and trained to give the follow-up service MN.12.3
• You were in Australia and readily contactable for clinical advice MN.12.6

How often item 10987 can be claimed

• Up to 10 a calendar year across the in-person, video, and phone versions, however many health assessments; unused services don’t roll over MN.12.3

Billing item 10987 with other items

With a consultation on the same day: only if it’s distinct. A consult on the same day if it is a distinct, clinically relevant service with no duplication MN.12.6

Only in some cases with item 10987

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health check (items 715, 228, 92004, and 92011)
  • Not for a nurse’s or health practitioner’s help with a health assessment (the assessment is a complete service) MN.12.3
  • The practice nurse items can’t be claimed for a nurse’s or health practitioner’s help with this assessment (it is a complete service) AN.0.43
• Acupuncture (items 193, 195, 197, and 199)
  • A consult on the same day if it is a distinct, clinically relevant service with no duplication MN.12.6
• General consultation (all 153 items, including 23, 36, 3, 4, 24, and 37)
  • A consult on the same day if it is a distinct, clinically relevant service with no duplication MN.12.6
• Prolonged attendance on a patient in imminent danger of death (all 10 items, including 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, and 214)
  • A consult on the same day if it is a distinct, clinically relevant service with no duplication MN.12.6
• Patient-end support for a specialist video consultation (all 32 items, including 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, and 378)
  • A consult on the same day if it is a distinct, clinically relevant service with no duplication MN.12.6
• Urgent after-hours attendance (all 8 items, including 585, 588, 591, 594, 599, and 600)
  • A consult on the same day if it is a distinct, clinically relevant service with no duplication MN.12.6
• Vaccine given by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner (item 10988)
  • Another nurse or health practitioner service on the doctor’s behalf at the same visit, when the services are distinct, clinically relevant, and not duplicated MN.12.6
  • For a patient with both a health assessment and a care plan, one nurse or health practitioner service (e.g. a vaccine or wound care) can fit this, the care plan nurse service, and, for a health practitioner’s vaccine or wound care, those items too; the MBS names no winner, so the doctor picks MN.12.3
  • A health practitioner’s vaccine for a patient with a care plan, or an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander patient who has had a health check, can also fit the care plan nurse service or the health check follow-up; the MBS names no winner, so the doctor picks (those two have yearly caps, this one doesn’t) MN.12.6
• Wound care by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner (item 10989)
  • The same day as a different nurse or health practitioner service on the doctor’s behalf (a vaccine, a health check follow-up, a care plan nurse service, or specialist video support), when both are distinct and not duplicated MN.12.2
  • For a patient with both a health assessment and a care plan, one nurse or health practitioner service (e.g. a vaccine or wound care) can fit this, the care plan nurse service, and, for a health practitioner’s vaccine or wound care, those items too; the MBS names no winner, so the doctor picks MN.12.3
  • A health practitioner’s wound care for a patient with a care plan, or an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander patient who has had a health check, can also fit the care plan nurse service or the health check follow-up; the MBS names no winner, so the doctor picks (those two have yearly caps, this one doesn’t) MN.12.6
• Health assessment (75+, aged care, and other target groups) (all 8 items, including 701, 703, 705, 707, 224, and 225)
  • Not for a nurse’s or health practitioner’s help with a health assessment (the assessment is a complete service) MN.12.3
• Menopause health assessment (menopause and perimenopause) (items 695 and 19000)
  • Not for a nurse’s help with a menopause health assessment (it is a complete service) AN.14.3
• Practice nurse service for a patient with a care plan (items 10997, 93201, and 93203)
  • For a patient with both a health assessment and a care plan, one nurse or health practitioner service (e.g. a vaccine or wound care) can fit this, the care plan nurse service, and, for a health practitioner’s vaccine or wound care, those items too; the MBS names no winner, so the doctor picks MN.12.3
  • For an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander patient with both a care plan and a health assessment, one nurse or health practitioner service (e.g. a vaccine or wound care) can fit this, the health check follow-up, and, for a health practitioner’s vaccine or wound care, those items too; the MBS names no winner, so the doctor picks MN.12.4

Can be billed with item 10987

• Nurse or Aboriginal health worker support during a specialist video consult (item 10983)
  • Another nurse or health practitioner service on the doctor’s behalf at the same visit, when the services are distinct, clinically relevant, and not duplicated MN.12.6

Bulk-billing incentive

An extra payment when a doctor bulk bills an unreferred service. With item 10987, one of these:

Other versions

Practice nurse follow-up after a health check (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patient) has 3 items. The others:

Where the MBS is unclear

• MN.12.3 says follow-up is available "after any MBS health assessment service" but points to AN.0.36 and AN.0.43 for the eligible ones, so whether a heart health check or a menopause health assessment opens up these follow-ups is unclear. The condition here counts the time-tiered and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander assessments. MN.12.3

Common questions

What is the fee for MBS item 10987?

The schedule fee is $28.70, and the Medicare benefit is 100% of it ($28.70). That’s under the MBS in force from 1 August 2026.

Can item 10987 be done by video or phone?

No. In person (the video and phone versions are separate items).

How often can item 10987 be claimed?

Up to 10 a calendar year across the in-person, video, and phone versions, however many health assessments; unused services don’t roll over.

Can item 10987 be claimed on the same day as a consultation?

Yes, if it’s distinct. A consult on the same day if it is a distinct, clinically relevant service with no duplication.

Can you bill 10987 and 715 together?

Only in some cases. Not for a nurse’s or health practitioner’s help with a health assessment (the assessment is a complete service). (Source: MBS MN.12.3.)

Can you bill 10987 and 23 together?

Only in some cases. A consult on the same day if it is a distinct, clinically relevant service with no duplication. (Source: MBS MN.12.6.)

Can you bill 10987 and 701 together?

Only in some cases. Not for a nurse’s or health practitioner’s help with a health assessment (the assessment is a complete service). (Source: MBS MN.12.3.)

Can you bill 10987 and 695 together?

Only in some cases. Not for a nurse’s help with a menopause health assessment (it is a complete service). (Source: MBS AN.14.3.)

Can item 10987 be billed with a bulk-billing incentive?

Yes. An extra payment when a doctor bulk bills an unreferred service. The items are 10990, 10991, 75855, 75856, 75857, and 75858.

Sources

• Item 10987: Group M12 Services Provided by a Practice Nurse, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker or an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner on behalf of a Medical Practitioner › Subgroup 3 Services Provided By A Practice Nurse Or Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner On Behalf Of A Medical Practitioner
• Note MN.12.3: Follow up service provided on behalf of a medical practitioner for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person who has received a health assessment (MBS Item 10987, 93200, 93202))
• Note MN.12.6: Services provided on behalf of a medical practitioner by a practice nurse and/or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care professionals (MBS Items 10983, 10987, 10988, 10989, 10997, 93200, 93201, 93202, 93203)
• Note AN.0.43: Health assessments for persons of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent (MBS Items 715, 228, 92004, 92011)
• Note MN.12.2: Wound management services provided by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner on behalf of a medical practitioner (MBS Item 10989)
• Note AN.14.3: Menopause and Perimenopause Health Assessments (MBS items 695 and 19000)
• Note MN.12.4: Services for a person with a chronic medical condition by a practice nurse or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner on behalf of a medical practitioner (MBS Items 10997, 93201, 93203)