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Review of Funding of Diagnostic Imaging

Review of Funding of Diagnostic Imaging Services

The Government requested a detailed review of funding arrangements for diagnostic imaging, to ensure that the Government is paying the right amount to support access for patients to quality diagnostic imaging services.

The Review of Funding of Diagnostic Imaging (the Review) was completed on 30 June 2011.

The Review of Funding for Diagnostic Imaging Final Report is now available to download here (PDF 189 KB)

The Final Report summarises the main findings of the Review and details the Diagnostic Imaging Review Reform Package, which was developed in response to the Review.The Review Package seeks to address the issues identified during the review, which extend to quality assurance, efficiency of practice, the role of the radiologist and demand management. Significantly, the package also provides a platform to address the ongoing appropriateness of the current schedule of fees for diagnostic imaging services and the regulatory framework in which diagnostic imaging operates in Australia.

Background to the Review

The Review took place against the Government’s broader agenda to ensure that spending on health is sustainable, affordable and provides maximum benefit to the greatest number of people, which will involve continued emphasis on savings and efficiencies. It took place in the broader context of reviewing the MBS including the review of funding of pathology. It also align with other review and reform agendas including the MBS Quality Framework, the Review of Health Technology Assessment, the Primary Care Strategy and the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission.

This Review focused on diagnostic imaging services currently funded through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), including x-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine imaging and positron emission tomography (PET) and had four key tasks:

• To establish appropriate fee relativities for MBS items across and within different diagnostic imaging modalities;
• To develop alternatives to fee-for-service and establish whether there are areas of diagnostic imaging that would be more appropriately funded through a different mechanism;
• To review current funding arrangements for MRI, particularly restrictions around Medicare eligible/ineligible units; and
• To review current funding arrangements for PET, particularly around what capital arrangements should apply.

In addition, within these four key tasks the review will consider the long-term viability of diagnostic imaging services in rural, regional and outer-metropolitan areas.

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Related Diagnostic Imaging Review Pages:

MRI Outcomes