Doctor ‘nudge letters’ saved Medicare $22 million, audit report claims
However, the health department apparently has no robust data on how much its compliance activities are costing taxpayers
Twelve thousand ‘nudge’ letters sent to doctors by the Department of Health apparently saved $22 million in Medicare and PBS costs, an audit investigation says.
The figure has been published by the Auditor-General following his review of the department’s Medicare compliance program.
Drawn up in 2018/19, the letters were designed to reduce inappropriate prescribing and reduce inappropriate Medicare billing – usually by offering peer comparisons with the claims of other doctors.
After being encouraged to review their Medicare billings, some 2,951 voluntary repayments were made, the Auditor-General said.
