Many biochemical tests could have been avoided.
Annually, 10.5 million biochemical samples are taken from 4.3 million patients in Norway. Of these samples, 100 million analyses are conducted. However, not all samples and analyses are equally necessary.
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Additionally, the costs are high. This is shown in the Health Atlas medical biochemistry from SKDE, which was published this autumn.
Significant geographical variation
The atlas reveals that there are large geographical differences in the number of analyses per inhabitant, and thus also in the reimbursement paid per inhabitant. For example, there were 76 per cent more analyses performed on residents in the catchment area of Vestfold compared to the catchment area of Finnmark.
The highest number of analyses per 1,000 inhabitants was conducted in Health South-East, where the rate was 44 per cent higher than in Health North, which had the lowest rate.
The average number of analyses per test varied from 5.9 for residents in Finnmark to just over 11 for residents in the catchment areas of Vestfold, Diakonhjemmet, and OUS.
Many unnecessary tests
According to analyst Kristel Guldhaugen, there is no reason to believe that the significant geographical variation is due to residents in some parts of the country having a greater need for biochemical tests than others.
— Many tests that are conducted are unnecessary. Examples of this include tests that have already been taken and are repeated unnecessarily shortly after, as well as tests conducted on large groups without good indication, such as for example vitamin D, explains Kristel Guldhaugen.
About 25 per cent of the female population aged 20—50 have their vitamin D levels measured each year, even though very few patients actually need such tests.
Could have saved 270 million kroner
Each year, 1.5 billion kroner was paid out to laboratories in reimbursements from Helfo for the tests mentioned in the health atlas. There were significant geographical differences in the reimbursement paid per inhabitant.
— Hvis alle områder hadde hatt samme rate som det helseforetaksområdet med lavest refusjon per innbygger, ville samfunnet spart 270 millioner kroner per år på refusjoner, forteller Guldhaugen.
At the municipal level, the annual reimbursement was highest per inhabitant in Grue municipality in Innlandet county and Evenes municipality in Nordland county, at 427 kroner. The annual reimbursement per inhabitant was lowest in Hasvik municipality in Finnmark county, at 140 kroner. Thus, the reimbursement paid was three times higher per inhabitant in Grue and Evenes compared to Hasvik.
You can find more results on our website skde.no.
See also the news article in Dagens Medisin: Health Atlas: Significant geographical differences in blood sampling and reimbursements (dagensmedisin.no)