Polysomnography in Australia--trends in provision

Area of Science:

• Medical diagnostics
• Health services research
• Sleep medicine

Background:

• Publicly funded reimbursement for polysomnography (PSG) in Australia commenced in 1990.
• Understanding the utilization trends of diagnostic procedures is crucial for health resource planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the growth in Medicare-funded polysomnography (PSG) utilization in Australia since 1990.
• To compare PSG growth trends with other diagnostic procedures and overall Medicare expenditure.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Medicare's online database of historical census-level data.
• Analyzed routine data collection for diagnostic procedures and payments.

Main Results:

• Consistent increase in PSG procedures performed in Australia from 1990 onwards.
• PSG growth exceeded overall Medicare spending growth and growth in comparable diagnostic tests.
• Significant interstate variations in PSG growth were observed, with per capita provision rising from 123 to 308 per 100,000 people (1995-2004).

Conclusions:

• Polysomnography provision in Australia shows sustained growth, surpassing population and Medicare funding increases for other interventions.
• Current per capita PSG rates (308/100,000) are lower than in Canada and the US, suggesting potential for continued expansion.
• Interstate disparities in growth highlight the need for further investigation into access and utilization patterns.