Commonwealth Numbered Regulations - Explanatory Statements

[Index] [Search] [Download] [Related Items] [Help]

HEALTH INSURANCE (1995-96 DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING SERVICES TABLE) REGULATIONS(AMENDMENT) 1996 NO. 128

Statutory Rules 1996 No. 128

Issued by authority of the Minister for Health and Family Services

Health Insurance Act 1973

Health Insurance (1995-96 Diagnostic Imaging Services Table) Regulations (Amendment)

The Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act) provides for payments by way of Medicare benefits, payments for hospital services and payments for matters concerning related committees and tribunals.

Section 133 of the Act provides that the Governor-General may make regulations for the purposes of the Act.

Section 4AA of the Act provides that the regulations may prescribe a table of diagnostic imaging services (the table). The Health Insurance (1995-96 Diagnostic Imaging Services Table) Regulations, Statutory Rules 1995 No. 299 currently prescribe such a table.

Details of the regulations are as follows.

Regulation 3 amends Rule 12 of the Rules of Interpretation of the Diagnostic Imaging Services Table Regulations. This amendment provides that one of the items applying to the preparation of a patient for a radiological procedure. Item 60957, applies to a service under Item 56218 in Group 12 (Computerised Tomography) of the Diagnostic Imaging Services Table. so that Medicare benefits are payable to patients for contrast injections provided when a computerised tomography scan of the spine is rendered,

Regulation 4 amends Pan 2 (Services and Fees) of the Diagnostic Imaging Services Table Regulations by creating two additional Duplex scanning ultrasound items specifically for the diagnosis and management of male erectile dysfunction. The creation of these items is a proactive measure aimed at addressing concerns that practitioners currently billing for examination of penile vessels by way of Doppler recordings. will commence performing the more expensive Duplex ultrasound scans. Expert medical advice is that Doppler studies of penile vessels gives poor diagnostic information. Based on this advice. changes to relevant items in the General Medical Services Table were made to deny Medicare benefits for Doppler recordings of penile vessels. The Duplex scanning ultrasound items in the Diagnostic Imaging Services Table were intended to cover imaging of the larger blood vessels rather than the blood vessels supplying the penis. The amendments are designed to limit Duplex scans of the penis to clinically necessary conditions 1 where the service is rendered by a specialist with experience in the field. There are consequential amendments to three Duplex scanning items.

The Regulations commence on 1 July 1996.