5000 GPs targeted with ‘nudge’ letters over pathology requests
The focus is on doctors above the 90th percentile for ordering thyroid function tests, as well as tests for iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin D
More than 5000 GPs are being targeted by federal Department of Health ‘nudge’ letters because of their pathology requests for thyroid stimulating hormone and thyroid function tests, as well as tests for vitamin B12, iron and vitamin D.
The RACGP says it has been told by officials that the letters are an attempt to “reduce GP requesting of combinations of MBS pathology items where there is no clinical indication of a serious illness and where pathology tests are unlikely to support diagnosis or management of the patient’s health concern”.
