Referred medical services
Over the period 2019–20 to 2022–23, total spending on referred medical services in relation to COVID–19 was $3.6 billion. Referred medical services include non–hospital medical services that are not classified as primary health care. The majority of these services relate to microbiology and pathology testing ($3.2 billion), telehealth extension support ($0.3 billion) and mental health ($42 million).