Information for Referring Practitioners

OUR RADIOLOGY TEAM
Our radiologists are not only leaders in their field, but they also encourage open communication with referrers.
Should you need to speak to any of our radiologists about a particular patient, please feel free to call our reporting room on (07) 3395 0011.

WEB ACCESS TO IMAGING AND REPORTS
Our entire database of patient imaging and reports is available online for access by referrers. Should you wish to access this service, you will need to be issued with a username and password. Please contact Michelle on (07) 3395 0011.

REFERRAL FORMS
Referral forms are available either in A5 pads for writing out manually, or in A4 format for use with computer printers.
If you require referral forms, please email or call and we will deliver them to you.

ELECTRONIC REPORT DELIVERY
We are able to provide electronic delivery of reports to suit most practice management software packages, such as Medical Director and Medical Spectrum. We send reports electronically every hour so that they are available to you as soon as possible after the examination is completed.
We use Healthlink as our delivery provider, which is one on the largest medical report delivery companies in Australia.
Using this service requires the installation of client software on your system. This is provided to you free-of-charge, and is simple to install.
Please contact us if you would like to utilise this service.

DIGITAL IMAGES
We are usually able to provide digital images if required in addition to film.
This may be on a floppy disk or CD-ROM, and may incur an additional cost to the patient.
If you would like digital images, please call to discuss your requirements.

MEDICARE ELIGIBILITY
We request that you complete all relevant information on the referral to assist us not only in providing accurate diagnosis, and also to determine  Medicare eligibility.
This is particularly important where eligibility rules are very strict, such as for Bone Densitometry, and Knee or Shoulder ultrasound examinations.
If you require any information on eligibility rules please click on the following links, or consult the latest MBS book, or contact one of our offices for assistance.

Shoulder Ultrasound Eligibility Guidelines
Knee Ultrasound Eligibility Guidelines
Bone Densitometry Eligibility Guidelines    
 

CHIROPRACTORS AND PHYSIOTHERAPISTS
Currently Medicare rebates for patients referred by Chiropractors and Physiotherapists are only available for spine, pelvis and hip examinations.

PODIATRISTS
Currently Medicare rebates for patients referred by podiatrists are only available for lower limb x-ray and ultrasound examinations.

DENTISTS
Currently Medicare rebates for patients referred by dentists are available for a limited range of examinations including OPGs, TMJs and mandible.
For more information please consult the latest MBS book, or contact one of our offices for assistance.

Shoulder Ultrasound
Medicare benefits are payable when referred for suspicion of the following clinical conditions:
- Evaluation of injury to tendon, muscle or tendon/muscle junction including
  tears, calcification or tendinosis
- Rotator cuff tear/calcification/tendinosis of biceps, subscapular,
  supraspinatus or infraspinatus
- Biceps subluxation
- Capsulitis and bursitis
- Evaluation of mass, including ganglion
- Occult fracture
- Acromioclavicular joint pathology.
Benefits are not payable for non-specific shoulder pain alone.

Knee Ultrasound
Medicare benefits are payable when referred for suspicion of the following clinical conditions:
- Abnormality of tendons or bursae
- Meniscal cyst, popliteal fossa cyst, mass or pseudomass
- Nerve entrapment, nerve or nerve sheath tumour.
Benefits are not payable for non-specific pain alone or other knee conditions including meniscal and cruciate ligament tears, or assessment of chondral surfaces.

Bone Mineral Densitometry
In order for a patient to receive a Medicare rebate for any DEXA examination, they must qualify using one of the following rules.
Please note that application of the rules is very strict, and if there is any doubt then it would be prudent to advise the patient that they may not qualify.

When you provide a referral for a patient who qualifies, please write the item number and the qualifying condition on the referral form.
NOTE: Failure to do so may disqualify the patient from claiming a Medicare rebate.
          Medicare Australia will not accept "Medically indicated"!

The Medicare rules and accompanying definitions for Bone Density are as follows:

As always should you require any assistance at any time, please call one of our offices.