Over 150 potentially low-value health care practices: an Australian study

Elshaug, Adam G

doi:10.5694/mja12.11770

Topics

In reply: In this issue of the Journal, several correspondents weigh in on our recent article in which we flagged services of potentially low value within Australia’s Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).1 Their letters highlight informative and unique reactions to such work.

Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass, USA.

Correspondence: elshaug@hcp.med.harvard.edu

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

1. Elshaug AG, Watt AM, Mundy L, Willis CD. Over 150 potentially low-value health care practices: an Australian study. Med J Aust 2012; 197: 556-560. <MJA full text>
2. Elshaug AG, Moss JR, Hiller JE, Maddern GJ. Upper airway surgery should not be first line treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea in adults. BMJ 2008; 336: 44-45.
3. Elshaug AG, Moss JR, Southcott AM, Hiller JE. Redefining success in airway surgery for obstructive sleep apnea: a meta analysis and synthesis of the evidence. Sleep 2007; 30: 461-467.
4. Franklin KA, Anttila H, Axelsson S, et al. Effects and side-effects of surgery for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea — a systematic review. Sleep 2009; 32: 27-36.
5. Scott IA. Looking for value in health care. Med J Aust 2012; 197: 538-539. <MJA full text>
6. Al-Khatib SM, Hellkamp A, Curtis J, et al. Non-evidence-based ICD implantations in the United States. JAMA 2011; 305: 43-49.
7. Elshaug AG, Moss JR, Littlejohns P, et al. Identifying existing health care services that do not provide value for money. Med J Aust 2009; 190: 269-273. <MJA full text>
8. Watt AM, Hiller JE, Braunack-Mayer AJ, et al. The ASTUTE Health study protocol: deliberative stakeholder engagements to inform implementation approaches to healthcare disinvestment. Implement Sci 2012; 7: 101.
9. Scott IA, Elshaug AG. Foregoing low value care: how much evidence is needed to change beliefs? Intern Med J 2013. In press.
10. Prasad V, Cifu A, Ioannidis JP. Reversals of established medical practices: evidence to abandon ship. JAMA 2012; 307: 37-38.

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