Your heart works hard for you every day — and the best time to look after it is before problems start. A Heart Health Check with your GP is a structured, preventative appointment designed to calculate your risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 5 years, and create a plan to reduce that risk.
What is a Heart Health Check?
A Heart Health Check (also known as a heart health assessment) is a 20+ minute consultation where your GP reviews key cardiovascular risk factors, calculates your overall heart risk using the Australian CVD risk calculator, and works with you on next steps.
It’s a practical way to:
- Identify risk early (often before symptoms appear)
- Understand your blood pressure, cholesterol, lifestyle risks and family history
- Make a plan to reduce risk through lifestyle changes and, if needed, medication
- Organise follow-up or further tests when appropriate
Who should have a Heart Health Check?
A Heart Health Check is recommended for many adults without known cardiovascular disease, especially if you have risk factors such as:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes or pre-diabetes
- Smoking or vaping
- Being above a healthy weight
- Low physical activity
- Sleep issues (including possible sleep apnoea)
- Stress and mental health factors
- A family history of heart disease or stroke
Age guidance: National resources commonly recommend routine CVD risk assessment for most people 50–79, and 30–79 for First Nations people (with earlier risk factor screening from a younger age).
Medicare rebate and eligibility
A Medicare rebate is generally available for eligible patients for a Heart Health Assessment (MBS item 699), once every 12 months, provided certain other health assessments haven’t been claimed in the prior 12 months.
Some consultations are eligible for bulk billing under Medicare. Please check with the friendly reception team at the time of booking to clarify if there are any out-of-pocket costs for your appointment.
What happens in the appointment?
Your GP (and sometimes our nurse) will usually cover:
1) Health and family history
We’ll talk about your general health, current medications, smoking, alcohol, physical activity, diet, sleep, stress, and family history of heart disease or stroke.
2) Measurements
This commonly includes:
- Blood pressure
- Height, weight, waist measurement (if needed)
- Review of recent blood tests (cholesterol and glucose) or arranging blood tests
3) Your heart risk score
Using your results and history, your GP calculates your absolute cardiovascular disease risk and records it in your medical notes.
4) Your personalised plan
Depending on your risk level, your plan may include:
- Nutrition and physical activity guidance
- Weight and waist management goals
- Support to quit smoking/vaping
- Blood pressure and cholesterol management
- Medication advice (where appropriate)
- Follow-up schedule and ongoing monitoring
How to prepare for your Heart Health Check
To get the most out of your appointment:
- Bring a list of your current medications (or your Webster pack)
- If you have home blood pressure readings, bring them along
- If you’ve had blood tests recently (including from a specialist), let us know
- Come ready to discuss family history (parents/siblings, ages at diagnosis if known)
If you haven’t had recent cholesterol/glucose testing, your GP may organise blood tests before or after your appointment.
What happens after the check?
Many patients benefit from a clear follow-up pathway, which may include:
- A review appointment to go through results and progress
- Repeat blood pressure checks
- Repeat blood tests (if required)
- Referrals to allied health (e.g., dietitian, exercise physiology) when appropriate
- Ongoing support to keep your plan realistic and sustainable
Book a Heart Health Check in Ringwood
If you’re ready to take a proactive step for your long-term health, we’d love to help.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Heart Health Check take?
- A Heart Health Check is typically at least 20 minutes.
How often should I have one?
- Medicare items are generally claimable once per 12 months (if eligible).
Your GP will recommend the best follow-up timing based on your individual risk and results.
Is it only for people with symptoms?
- No — it’s designed for prevention, often before symptoms appear.
What if I already have heart disease?
- If you have diagnosed cardiovascular disease, you may need a different care pathway (for example, chronic disease management and/or specialist follow-up). Your GP will guide you.
