['The Medicare-rebated Health Assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People (Medicare Benefits Schedule [MBS] item number 715) has been progressively implemented across Australia since 1999.', 'This paper explores some of the reasons why the uptake of Health Assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People remains low in some metropolitan general practices.', 'Semi-structured interviews and self-complete mail surveys with 31 general practice staff and practitioners were combined with an audit of practice systems and patient medical records in seven general practices in Sydney.', 'Barriers to MBS item number 715 uptake included low rates of Indigenous status identification, lack of knowledge of MBS item numbers, lack of organisational teamwork within the practice and avoidance of billing specific MBS item numbers.'] Does the uptake of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health assessments fail to improve in some areas?