Expansion of Medicare-eligible MRI services
The Australian Government has confirmed the locations for the 2007-08 expansion of Medicare-eligible Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) services.
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12 February 2008
NR08/16
The Australian Government today confirmed the locations for the 2007-08 expansion of Medicare-eligible Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) services.
The locations honour the Government’s election commitment to expand Medicare-eligible MRI services. The 15 locations are:
NSW: Bankstown, Maitland-Newcastle-Hunter (replacing the previous Newcastle-Hunter location), Sutherland Shire, Wollongong Hospital;
VIC: Clayton-Oakleigh, Inner Melbourne;
QLD: Bundaberg, Cairns Base Hospital (replacing the previous Cairns location), Rockhampton Hospital;
SA: Morphett Vale, Port Augusta;
WA: Armadale, Joondalup;
TAS: North-West Tasmania, Launceston General Hospital.
These locations take into account those announced in 2007 by the previous Government.
The Rudd Government recognises that patients and communities value access to affordable MRI services. Expanding Medicare-eligible MRI services will improve access to this important diagnostic tool for many communities.
The Department of Health and Ageing is moving forward with the various application and direct listing processes for the confirmed locations. Where appropriate, the processes commenced by the previous Government will be continued.
Further announcements about the outcomes of individual application and direct listing processes will be made by the Government as each is finalised.
MRI uses strong magnetic fields to generate images to assist in diagnosing illnesses. It is especially effective on soft tissue, making it important for diseases such as cancer and strokes.
This is another part of Labor’s comprehensive plan to deliver better health care to working families – and an important step towards building a better health system for a modern Australia.
Media contact: Sean Kelly - 0417 108 362
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