IMPORTANT UPDATE
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING REQUESTS BY GENERAL PRACTITIONERS
Following extensive lobbying by the AMA, last year the former Minister for Health and Ageing announced that General Practitioners would be able to request Medicare Benefits Schedule items relating to MRI services from I January 2008.
The two MRI items were 63328 – derangement of knee or its supporting structures, and 63049- demyelinating disease of the brain.
The Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) has advised that, as the implementation process had not been finalised by the former Government, these changes to MRI requesting rights have not yet been put in place by DoHA.
This means that the current arrangements for requests of MRI scans, as outlined in the
Medicare Benefits Schedule Book will continue to apply.
The new Government has indicated it will review this policy commitment before deciding whether to proceed with its implementation.
The AMA welcomed the former Government’s initiative when it was announced. Research commissioned by the AMA showed that GP MRI referrals would benefit for patients and potentially result in cost savings to the Government. The AMA is obviously concerned that the policy initiative is now on hold.
The AMA has moved quickly to take this matter up with senior officials from the Department of Health and Ageing along with the offices of the Minister for Health and Ageing. Updates on the progress of these discussions will be provided in future editions of GP Network News.