Medical imaging question

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Originally Posted by Roverlord off road spares

MRIs are expensive so A GP normally doesn't suggest them, but specialists do. Other wise GPs would recommend them for everything. Thats what my GP told me.
Also MRI machines are are few and far between, and generally there's a wait to book, unless your prepared to travel.

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Yes, that's normally the case, but for both my MRIs so far, one was recommended by my physio (though he got the specialist to sign the request off, in advance of seeing him), and the other by the GP to save time and extra visits to the specialist.

And expensive? Not that bad - it depends on the company. Because it's not covered by Medicare, you're paying the full whack. As I posted above, I paid $185 for mine a few weeks ago.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Roverlord off road spares

MRIs are expensive so A GP normally doesn't suggest them, but specialists do. Other wise GPs would recommend them for everything. Thats what my GP told me.
Also MRI machines are are few and far between, and generally there's a wait to book, unless your prepared to travel.

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There are few here in Hobart and if you are not willing to see a specialist for $650.00 you can have one done.
The waiting time here in Hobart is about 3 days if it is not an emergency.
In Bundaberg was a different situation because a mobile unit come to town once a month.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Roverlord off road spares

MRIs are expensive so A GP normally doesn't suggest them, but specialists do. Other wise GPs would recommend them for everything. Thats what my GP told me.
Also MRI machines are are few and far between, and generally there's a wait to book, unless your prepared to travel.

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Depends who is referring, and if the practice doing it actually has a Medicare license.

The practice I work in - specialist referral is bulk billed providing there is a medicare item number relevant.

GPs cannot refer for MRIs and be medicare eligible except in 5 certain indications in children.

We charge $300 flat if its a non-eligible scan. Everyone else is bilk-billed. The Medicare rebate is typically $300-450 for an MRI, so we receive less from those who have to pay than for those bulk-billed.

There are a lot of MRI sites who have no license (everyone has to pay), some have partial licenses (so medicare pays for only some things).

Some sites also have far better radiologists reporting than others.

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Originally Posted by seano87

Depends who is referring, and if the practice doing it actually has a Medicare license.

The practice I work in - specialist referral is bulk billed providing there is a medicare item number relevant.

GPs cannot refer for MRIs and be medicare eligible except in 5 certain indications in children.

We charge $300 flat if its a non-eligible scan. Everyone else is bilk-billed. The Medicare rebate is typically $300-450 for an MRI, so we receive less from those who have to pay than for those bulk-billed.

There are a lot of MRI sites who have no license (everyone has to pay), some have partial licenses (so medicare pays for only some things).

Some sites also have far better radiologists reporting than others.

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If the referring doc is aware of your history, ask them to put "MBO" meaning Medical Benefits Only, on the form. This is how they get bulk billed.

A MRI can be horribly expensive. I have had to pay up to $400 for a scan on my spine...

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Originally Posted by Basil135

If the referring doc is aware of your history, ask them to put "MBO" meaning Medical Benefits Only, on the form. This is how they get bulk billed.

A MRI can be horribly expensive. I have had to pay up to $400 for a scan on my spine...

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As I said, there are criteria for Medicare being able to pay anything at all. An MRI referral from a gp is not payable by medicare, regardless of what anyone writes on a referral. They pay zilch (unless child and certain indications).other than that, only specialists can refer for a MRI that medicare will contribute to.

Across the board, my practice bulk bills everything that can possibly be bulk billed for. MRI, CT, US, NM, generals, mammo, screening, BMD.

Unfortunately most practices don't, primarily because Medicare has not increased their rebates for well over a decade, and across many modalities the Medicare fee doesn't even go close to covering the cost of the exam.

But that's getting well off topic!

doctor did say a specialist would have to make the call on that and has given me referral to an... orthopaedic surgeon
thanks for all the input. Im not 'dead' yet anyway, actually would be better if my leg unarguably buggered, more clear cut case. This inbetween stuff is dreadful when big company attitudes are involved

I had an mri done on my knee a few years back at the Northern Hospital in Epping. It cost me nothing.