An assessment of nucleic acid amplification testing for active mycobacterial infection

Other Australian healthcare system costs

Costs to the state and territory health systems

There is some indication that NAAT is currently being used (though perhaps not routinely) in the diagnosis of mycobacterial infections. Advice from one state Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory indicated that these costs are currently covered by the states for public patients, and so listing of NAAT will shift these costs from state health budgets to the federal health budget.

Costs to the private health insurer and/or patient

Patient contributions associated with the proposed NAAT listings are estimated to increase from $217,000 to $257,000 over a 5-year period.

Some testing may currently be funded privately. It is assumed that some of these costs will shift to the federal health budget (subject to the fee and patient contribution).

Total Australian healthcare system costs

Given that some shifting of costs from state health budgets to the federal health budget is anticipated with the proposed listings, the net societal costs of NAAT may be lower than those presented in Table .