GPs will be able to access a specific Medicare item to assess their patients’ risk of heart disease, despite an MBS Review Taskforce committee rejecting the idea in December.

The Federal Government has promised to provide funding for comprehensive cardiovascular disease screenings in general practice, in response to a campaign by the National Heart Foundation.

It means that from April, Medicare will provide a rebate of $72.80 — equal to the fee for a level C standard consult — for a half-hour integrated heart health check, including blood pressure, cholesterol, kidney function and glucose assessments.

GPs are then supposed to estimate their patients’ five-year risk of myocardial infarction based on the results of the tests.