Overview

Pathology, diagnostic imaging and other diagnostic services assist medical and other health practitioners to describe, diagnose and monitor a patient’s illness or injury. Patients may receive such services in hospital, but for services provided in non-hospital settings, patients are typically referred to these services by a medical practitioner. There are simple basic pathology tests, some imaging services and many other diagnosis services that patients do not require a referral to attract Medicare benefit.

Featured summary

185.1 million Medicare-subsidised pathology and diagnostic services were rendered in 2020–21, amounting to $8.2 billion in benefits paid
In 2020–21, 39% of people in Major cities & regional areas had an imaging service, compared with 31% in Remote areas & 23% in Very remote areas
Up to the June quarter 2021, 20–38% of microbiology services were for COVID-19 PCR testing. The proportion rose to 73% in the December quarter 2021.
In 2020–21, 92% of people aged 65 and over had a pathology service, compared with 74% of people aged 45–64 and 49% of people aged 44 and under