Changes to the frequency and appropriateness of vitamin D testing after the introduction of new Medicare criteria for rebates in Australian general practice: evidence from 1.5 million patients in the NPS MedicineInsight database.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To assess changes in the frequency of vitamin D testing and detection of moderate/severe vitamin D deficiency (<30 nmol/L) among adults after the introduction of new Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) rebate criteria (November 2014), and their relationship to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.

Design

Dynamic (open) cohort study SETTING: Primary care PARTICIPANTS: About 1.5 million 'active' patients aged 18+ years visiting a general practitioner and included in the National Prescribing Service MedicineInsight database.

Outcome measures

The frequency of vitamin D testing (per 1000 consultations) and moderate/severe vitamin D deficiency (%) recorded between October 2013 and March 2016, stratified by the release of the new MBS criteria for rebate.

SUBMITTER: Gonzalez-Chica D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6429877 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature