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MBS-subsidised knee CT scans rise 83% despite clinical warnings
MBS-subsidised knee CT scans rise 83% despite clinical warnings
Rates of Medicare-subsidised knee CT scans for Australians aged 45 and older surged by 83% between 2019/20 and 2023/24, according to a new report from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. The findings highlight a growing disconnect between clinical guidance and prescribing habits for knee osteoarthritis.
Doctors are increasingly ordering knee CT scans and ultrasounds for patients, despite established clinical guidance warning that these imaging techniques are not appropriate for diagnosing knee osteoarthritis. A new report from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care highlights a significant rise in the use of these procedures over a four-year period.
The commission’s analysis found that the rate of Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)-subsidised knee CT scans among patients aged 45 and older increased by 83% between the 2019/20 and 2023/24 financial years. This surge translates to an increase from 261 scans per 100,000 people to 478 scans per 100,000 people.
In addition to the sharp rise in CT usage, the report identified a 26% increase in knee ultrasounds over the same timeframe. These figures have raised concerns among health officials regarding the appropriateness of medical imaging for common joint conditions where such tests may not provide diagnostic value.
H.Szczepanski--GL
