TABLE 3.
The estimated cost of OLBC and surgical biopsy based on Medicare Benefits Schedule
| Procedure | Surgical biopsy | OLBC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Item no. a ) description |
Cost AUD |
(Item no. a ) description |
Cost AUD |
|
| Consultation | (110) dental specialist | 155.6 | (110) dental specialist | 155.6 |
| OR | OR | |||
| (36) GDP | 73.95 | (36) GDP | 73.95 | |
| Sampling | (30072) cost per site | 53.05 | (73043) cost per lesion | 22.85 |
| Microscopic examination | (72823) 1 specimen | 97.15 | (73076) | 46 |
| (72824) 2–4 specimens | 141.35 | |||
| (72825) 5–7 specimens | 180.25 | |||
| Estimated total | At a specialist clinic | ≥ 305.8 | At a specialist clinic | 224.45 |
| At a GDP clinic | ≥224.15 | At a GDP clinic | 142.8 | |
Abbreviations: AUD; Australia dollar, GDP; general dental practitioner; OLBC, oral liquid‐based brush cytology
a
Item number according to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (2020)