GPs who make high numbers of imaging requests will be sent letters urging them to reflect on their practice, in a new campaign to “nudge” their behaviour.

The Department of Health says it is preparing to contact GPs with high volumes of referrals for 26 MBS items for imaging including lower back CT, neck MRI and shoulder ultrasound (see box).

The letters, to be sent starting next month, will inform GPs that they are referring a higher volume of their patients than their peers.

They will also “draw attention to overdiagnosis and overtreatment, and support GPs to reduce potential harm to patients”, the department says.