Table 2

Costs associated with episodes involving low-value care

Low-value procedure	Narrower definition of low-value care				Broader definition of low-value care
Low-value procedure	Total cost 2011–2012 to 2016–2017 ($ million)	Total cost in 2016–2017 ($ million)	Median cost per episode in 2016–2017 ($)	Bed-days in 2016–2017	Total cost 2011–2012 to 2016–2017 ($ million)	Total cost in 2016–2017 ($ million)	Median cost per episode in 2016–2017 ($)	Bed-days in 2016–2017
High-volume and high-proportion low-value care
Abdominal hysterectomy (vs vaginal or laparoscopic)	58.18	10.48	9695	2789	93.30	17.14	9779	4611
Endoscopy for dyspepsia in people <55	27.87	10.36	2157	2830	31.14	12.82	2243	3391
Endovascular repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm	56.41	8.74	30 529	998	71.47	12.75	32 733	1762
Arthroscopy of knee for osteoarthritis or degenerative meniscal tears	49.69	5.24	2959	1749	100.24	13.30	2984	3835
Renal artery angioplasty or stenting	19.61	4.53	16 259	1058	19.61	4.53	16 259	1058
Vena cava filters for pulmonary embolism prevention	23.88	4.23	28 944	1111	63.35	13.55	28 114	4128
Carotid endarterectomy for asymptomatic, high-risk patients	16.27	2.05	13 387	420	20.85	3.05	14 629	612
Surgery for vesicoureteric reflux	0.65	0.64	12 806	202	0.65	0.64	12 806	202
Epidural steroid injection for low back pain	1.04	0.12	2350	63	1.11	0.15	3110	70
High-volume and low-proportion low-value care
Colonoscopy for constipation in people <50	29.53	9.43	6726	1801	33.94	13.44	6750	2262
Percutaneous coronary intervention for stable coronary disease	4.42	1.45	6079	315	11.74	4.79	8239	1704
Spinal fusion	6.10	1.09	32 955	253	61.18	16.73	33 635	3000
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for acute gallstone pancreatitis without cholangitis	3.76	0.33	3918	110	11.33	1.55	8267	717
Sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma in situ	0.86	0.25	4770	40	5.67	1.71	4634	326
Low-volume and high-proportion low-value care
Vertebral biopsy for vertebral fracture	1.03	0.58	45 728	133	1.03	1.87	25 430	853
Vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral fracture	1.03	0.22	11 449	162	4.50	0.92	12 163	662
Hyperbaric oxygen for a range of indications	0.89	0.21	55 028	159	3.80	0.40	43 440	238
Unblocking nasolacrimal duct in infants <12 months	0.05	0.04	2905	18	0.05	0.04	2905	18
Laparoscopic uterine nerve ablation	0.06	0.02	2905	3	0.23	0.11	2906	12
Low-volume and low-proportion low-value care
Open bariatric surgery (vs laparoscopic)	1.09	1.04	13 556	203	1.09	1.04	13 556	203
Pelvic lymphadenectomy for early endometrial cancer	0	0	0	0	1.82	1.14	43 023	52
Electrotherapy for pressure ulcer	0.52	0	0	0	2.54	0.33	3144	112
Retinal laser or cryotherapy for lattice degeneration	0.10	0.01	1864	4	0.16	0.05	3356	18
Endometrial biopsy for investigation of infertility	0.01	0	0	0	0.01	0	0	0
Removal of gall bladder during bariatric surgery	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1
Postoperative radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Electroconvulsive therapy in children	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

All costs are in $A. Note that costs and bed-days are totals for the episodes in which the low-value procedure occurred, and include all other procedures that occurred in those episodes. Costs are only available for episodes that receive activity-based funding.
High volume means the number of low-value episodes in 2016–2017 was greater than or equal to the median number (23). High proportion means the percentage of procedures identified as low value in 2016–2017 was greater than or equal to the median percentage (12.5%).