NT-proBNP Testing for Heart Failure Diagnosis

Medicare rebate

From 1st Nov 2024, BNP/NT-proBNP testing will be Medicare rebatable when ordered by GPs. These biomarkers have been used primarily by cardiologists and emergency clinicians but now GPs can request the test to assess patients for heart failure and the test will attract a Medicare rebate.

NT–proBNP and BNP tests are treated as equivalent by Medicare and our laboratories. Testing FrequencyBNP or NT-proBNP will attract a Medicare benefit only once per 12-month period.

When to request NT-proBNP for patients?

Request NT-proBNP when patients are presenting:

• Dyspnea: acute or chronic shortness of breath, especially where heart failure is suspected but not confirmed.
• Oedema: peripheral oedema, unexplained fatigue, or elevated JVP.
• Comorbidity: a history of lung disease where you are assessing for coexisting heart failure.
• Risk Factors: patients who are at risk of CHF due to age, hypertension, or diabetes but do not yet show clear signs of the condition.

Assess whether a patient presenting with one of the above factors is requiring echocardiography.

Benefits over traditional diagnostic methods

• Accessible: easier to access compared to echocardiography, especially in non-urban settings.
• Time-sensitive: faster results compared to waiting for imaging.
• Specificity: high negative predictive value – a low NT-proBNP level virtually excludes CHF, allowing you to focus on alternative diagnoses.

Likelihood of heart failure