Diagnostic testing for chronic UTI

Question

10. Diagnostic testing for chronic UTI a. How many midstream urine (MSU) culture tests billed under Medicare Benefits Schedule item 69333 were performed in each of the past five financial years, and what was the total annual Medicare expenditure for these tests? b. What was the total Medicare expenditure on general practitioner and specialist consultations related to urinary tract infection in each financial year since 2019? c. How many individual patients received at least one test billed under Medicare Benefits Schedule item 69333 in each of the past five financial years? d. What steps has the Department taken to ensure that relevant medical bodies adequately inform and educate health practitioners about the limitations of standard urine culture testing, including the potential for false negatives and the detection of bacteria that may not be clinically relevant to patient symptoms? e. Has the Department undertaken or commissioned any review of the diagnostic accuracy or clinical effectiveness of midstream urine (MSU) culture testing for urinary tract infections in Australia?

Answer

Please see attached answer.

Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• DHDA SQ26-002819.pdf (opens in a new tab)