Children to get Better Access to MRI Machines

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PDF printable version of Children to get Better Access to MRI Machines (PDF 73 KB)

16 May 2011

Children under the age of 16 will get MRI scans more quickly and more cheaply as a result of changes announced in the Federal Budget to improve access to MRIs.

The Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, said that from November 2012 the Government will allow GPs to refer patients under the age of 16 to Medicare-eligible MRIs for specific conditions like chronic headache and acute knee injury without the need to first see a specialist.

Minister Roxon said this will reduce the costs associated with having a scan and speed up the time taken to get a diagnosis.

“Importantly, it avoids exposing children unnecessarily to radiation associated with other types of diagnostic imaging like CT machines,” Minister Roxon said.

“We heard today of the case of Jocelyn, a 12-year-old girl, who was able to have life-saving surgery because an MRI scan detected a brain tumour. In her case the MRI was best placed to diagnose her problem” said Minister Roxon.

From November 2013 adults will be able to access Medicare benefits on a licensed MRI machine with a GP referral for certain medical conditions like lower back pain.

The Royal College of Australian and New Zealand Radiologists support the Government’s policy. The diagnostic industry has also welcomed the changes.

MRI uses magnetic fields to generate images that help diagnose illnesses. It is especially effective on soft tissue, making it important for working with diseases such as some cancers and strokes.

The Federal Budget granted new Medicare licences for more than 60 existing MRI machines across Australia. From November 2012 these newly-licenced MRIs will have greater access to Medicare rebates. The Department of Health is in discussion with additional providers to determine their Medicare eligibility.

In addition to better access, the Gillard Government is committed to bulkbilling in order to make scans cheaper for patients. The Federal Budget increased the bulkbilling incentive for MRI scans to 100% of the scheduled fee with effect from May 2012.

This further increase follows a boost to the bulkbilling incentive in May 2009 from 85% to 95% which has lifted the bulkbilling rate for diagnostic imaging to 73.1% - a new record level.

For more information, contact the Minister's Office on (02) 6277 7220

Note for media:
Attached is the list of 64 existing MRI machines that the Department of Health has confirmed will receive partial or full Medicare licences from November 2012. Partial licences will be granted to existing MRIs located in major metropolitan areas enabling Medicare funding for scans for rectal, cervical and breast cancers. Full licences will be granted to existing MRIs located in regional areas enabling all scans listed on the Schedule to be funded by Medicare. The Department of Health is in discussion with additional MRI providers where further information is needed to determine their eligibility for a Medicare licence.

Diagnostic Imaging Practices Where Medicare Australia Data Indicates Magnetic Resonance Imaging Unit in a Comprehensive Practice – To Benefit from Partial Medicare Eligibility

	Provider	Practice Name / Hospital	Address	Location
ACT	Canberra Imaging Group	John James Hospital Canberra Imaging Group Clinical Services Building	175 Strickland Crescent DEAKIN ACT 2600	Private Hospital
ACT	ACT Health	The Canberra Hospital	L2 Yamba Drive GARRAN ACT 2605	Public Hospital
SA	Radiology SA	Memorial Hospital, Radiology Department	Ground Sir Edwin Smith Avenue NORTH ADELAIDE SA 5006	Public Hospital
SA	Benson Radiology	Benson Radiology North Adelaide	225-229 Melbourne Street NORTH ADELAIDE SA 5006	Private Practice
SA	Dr Jones & Partners	St Andrew's Hospital	Floor 1, 350 South Tce ADELAIDE SA 5000	Private Hospital
SA	Dr Jones & Partners	Tennyson Specialist Centre	Ground Floor, 506-520 South Road, KARRALTA PARK SA 5037	Private Practice
SA	SA Health	Flinders Medical Centre	3 Flinders Drive BEDFORD PARK SA 5042	Public Hospital
SA	Private Practice Holding Radiology and Nuclear Medicine	The Queen Elizabeth Hospital	Ground Floor, 28 Woodville SOUTH ADELAIDE 5011	Public Hospital
WA	SKG Radiology	SKG Radiology Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Department St John of God Hospital	LG 175 Campbridge Street SUBIACO WA 6008	Private Hospital
WA	Insight Clinical Imaging Midland	Insight Clinical Imaging Unit	2 3-5 The Crescent MIDLAND WA 6056	Private Practice
WA	Perth Radiological Clinic	Perth Radiological Clinic Myaree	Unit 1 Ground Floor 260 Leach Highway MYAREE WA 6154	Private Practice
WA	Perth Radiological Clinic	Perth Radiological Clinic Midland	Victoria Street Radiology Ground Floor 21-23 Victoria Street MIDLAND WA 6056	Private Practice
VIC	Capital Radiology	Capital Radiology	81-83 Paislley st FOOTSCRAY VIC 3011	Private Practice
VIC	Imaging at Olympic Park	AAMI stadium	AAMI stadium MELBOURNE, VIC 3000	Private Practice
VIC	Future Medical Imaging	Future Medical Imaging	347 Ascot Vale Road MOONEE PONDS VIC 3039	Private Practice
VIC	Frankston Radiology MIA VIC P/L	Frankston Radiology MIA VIC P/L	19 Hastings Road FRANKSTON VIC 3199	Private Practice
VIC	Epping Consulting Centre	Epping Consulting Centre Healthcare Imaging Services	175 Cooper Street EPPING VIC 3076	Private Practice
VIC	Symbion Imaging	Knox Private Hospital	262 Mountain Hwy WANTIRNA VIC 3152	Private Hospital
VIC	Richmond Diagnostic	Radiology Department	Level 1-3 89 Bridge Road RICHMOND VIC 3121	Private Hospital
VIC	Melbourne Health	Melbourne Health Royal Melbourne Hospital Radiology Department	1 Grattan Street CARLTON VIC 3053	Private Hospital
VIC	Maroondah Radiology	Maroondah Radiology	110 Mount Dandenong Road, RINGWOOD EAST VIC 3135	Private Practice
VIC	Glen Waverley Radiology	Glen Waverley Radiology	SE 2 262 -264 Springvale Road GLEN WAVERLEY VIC 3150	Private Practice
VIC	Epping Radiology	Epping Radiology	SE 2 Ground Floor 230 Cooper Street EPPING VIC 3076	Private Practice
VIC	Melbourne Radiology	Melbourne Radiology	SE 3-6 LE 100 Victoria Parade EAST MELBOURNE 3002	Private Practice
VIC	Monash Medical Centre	Monash Medical Centre	Level 2, 232-246 Clayton Road, CLAYTON VIC 3168	Public Hospital
VIC	Monash Medical Centre	Monash Medical Centre Department of Diagnostic Imaging	Level 2, 232-246 Clayton Road, CLAYTON VIC 3168	Public Hospital
VIC	Peninsula Health - Radiology Department	Peninsula Health - Radiology Department	13 Hastings Road FRANKSTON VIC 3199	Public Hospital
VIC	Barwon health	Barwon health Radiology Department	Level 1 272-322 Ryrie Street GEELONG VIC 3220	Public Hospital
VIC	The Alfred	The Alfred Radiology & Nuclear Medicine	Commercial Road PRAHAN VIC 3181	Public Hospital
QLD	Sunshine Coast Radiology	Sunshine Coast Radiology	60 Wises Road MAROOCHYDORE QLD 4558	Private Practice
QLD	Westrad Radiology	Westrad Radiology Ipswich	Suite 5 30 Limestione St IPSWICH QLD 4305	Private Practice
QLD	Noosa Radiology	Noosa Radiology Noosaville Medical and Professional Centre	90 Goodhap Street NOOSAVILLE QLD 4566	Private Practice
QLD	South Coast Radiology	South Coast Radiology Allamanda Surgical Centre	103-113 Nerang Street SOUTHPORT QLD 4215	Private Practice
QLD	Pacific Radiology Pty Ltd	Pacific Radiology	SE 1, Ground Floor, 49 Baden Powell Street MAROOCHYDORE QLD 4558	Private Practice
QLD	South Coast Radiology	South Coast Radiology HQ	SE 2-6, G, 58 Riverwalk Avenue ROBINA QLD 4226	Private Practice
QLD	Queensland X-Ray	Queensland X-Ray Southport	SE G1-G3, 128 Queen Street, SOUTHPORT QLD 4215	Private Practice
QLD	X Radiology Australia	X Radiology Australia	Se 1B, 601 Coronation Drive TOOWONG QLD 4066	Private Practice
QLD	Qscan Radiology Clinic	Qscan Radiology Clinic Annerley	SE 7, 310 Ipswich Road ANNERLEY QLD 4103	Private Practice
QLD	Queensland X-Ray	Queensland X-Ray Cooporoo	342 Old Cleveland Road COOPOROO QLD 4151	Private Practice
QLD	Allamanda Private Imaging	Allamanda Private Hospital	21 Spendelove Avenue SOUTHPORT QLD 4215	Private Hospital
QLD	Royal Brisbane &Women's Hospital Health Service	Royal Brisbane &Women's Hospital	Herston Campus, East Block Butterfield Street QLD 4029	Public Hospital
QLD	The Prince Charles Hospital	The Prince Charles Hospital	Rode Road CHERMSIDE QLD 4032	Public Hospital
NSW	Western Imaging Group	Western Imaging Group	30 Campbell Street BLACKTOWN NSW 2148	Private Practice
NSW	PRP Diagnostic Imaging Nth Gosford	Gosford Private Hospital	Ground Burrabil Avenue GOSFORD NSW 2250	Private Hospital
NSW	Pennant Hills Diagnostic Centre	Pennant Hills Diagnostic Centre	12 Fisher Avenue PENNANT HILLS NSW 2120	Private Practice
NSW	Hunter Imaging Group -Cardiff	Hunter Imaging Group -Cardiff	Cardiff 48 Thomas Street CARDIFF NSW 2285	Private Practice
NSW	Ultrascan Campbelltown	Ultrascan Campbelltown	SE 18-22 82-84 Queen Street CAMPBELLTOWN NSW 2560	Private Practice
NSW	City X-Ray Pty Ltd	City X-Ray	Domain House, Ground Floor SE 2, 139 Macquarie Street SYDNEY NSW 2000	Private Practice
NSW	PRP Diagnostic Imaging Dee Why	PRP Diagnostic Imaging Dee Why	7 Oaks Avenue DEE WHY NSW 2099	Private Practice
NSW	PRP Diagnostic Imaging Gordon	PRP Diagnostic Imaging Gordon	741 Pacific Highway GORDON NSW 2072	Private Practice
NSW	PRP Diagnostic Imaging Cumberland	PRP Diagnostic Imaging Cumberland	73-75 Dumore Street WENTWORTHVILLE NSW 2145	Private Practice
NSW	Cscan	Cscan	95 Pacific Hwy CHARLESTOWN NSW 2290	Private Practice
NSW	Macquarie Medical Imaging	Macquarie Medical Imaging	Ground Floor 3 Technology Place NORTH RYDE NSW 2113	Private Practice
NSW	Pittwater Radiology Dee Why	Pittwater Radiology Dee Why	SE 5, 800 Pittwater Road DEE WHY NSW 2099	Private Practice
NSW	Radiology Department	St George Hospital Radiology Department	Burt Neilson Wing Level 1 1 Gray Street KOGARAH NSW 2217	Public Hospital
NSW	Hunter New England Imaging	John Hunter Hospital	NEW LAMBTON NSW 2305	Public Hospital
NSW	Advanced Imaging	Advanced Imaging Diagnostic Imaging/Nuclear Medicine	G 1-11 Mons Road WESTMEAD NSW 2145	Private Hospital

Diagnostic Imaging Practices Where Medicare Australia Data Indicates Magnetic Resonance Imaging Unit in a Comprehensive Practice – To Benefit from Full Medicare Eligibility

	Provider	Practice Name / Hospital	Address	Location
TAS	Radiology Tasmania	Radiology Tasmania Wheatsheaf	314 Macquarie Street SOUTH HOBART TAS 7004	Private Practice
VIC	Warrnambool Radiology	Southwest Healthcare	Ryot Street WARRNAMBOOL VIC 3280	Public Hospital
QLD	Queensland X-Ray	Queensland X-Ray	SE 21A, 103 Duckworth Street, GARBUTT QLD 4814	Private Practice
QLD	Queensland X-Ray	Queensland X-Ray Radiology and Nuclear Medicine	76 Willetts Road NORTH MACKAY QLD 4740	Private Hospital
QLD	Queensland X-Ray	Queensland X-Ray Radiology Department,	22-36 Scott Street EAST TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350	Private Hospital
NSW	X-Ray Group	X-Ray ABH	Albury Base Hospital Borella ALBURY NSW 2640	Public Hospital
NSW	Highlands Xray	Highlands Xray	U4 380 Bong Bong Street BOWRAL NSW 2576	Private Practice

Note:
Partial licences will enable Medicare funding for scans for rectal, cervical and breast cancers. Full licences will enable all scans listed on the Schedule to be funded by Medicare. The Department of Health is in discussion with additional MRI providers where further information is needed to determine their eligibility for a Medicare licence.