Medicare rebates for imaging to lift for first time in 20 years
Health minister Greg Hunt pledges $200 million to reduce out-of-pocket costs for scans
Radiologists are welcoming federal government plans to index the MBS rebates for X-ray and ultrasound services for the first time in two decades.
The government says it will begin increasing the rebates for 90% of the diagnostic imaging services on the MBS from July next year, assuming it wins the election.
The funding boost, expected to cost $200 million, will come in gradually over the next three years for 200 MBS items, including X-rays, pregnancy ultrasounds and echocardiograms.
It is the first time the rebates have been increased to all ultrasound and diagnostic radiology services on the MBS since 1998 and will coincide with the reindexation of GP items such as health assessments, after-hours and GP management plans.
