Summary
13 November 2018
The RACGP responded to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Taskforce Report from the Diagnostic Imaging Clinical Committee (DICC) on MBS diagnostic imaging items related to different body areas and systems.
The RACGP supports the DICC’s recommendations that research on the reasons underpinning observed GP requesting patterns for computed tomography (CT) of cervical spine, ongoing use of head CT and to review the reasons why musculoskeletal ultrasounds is undertaken before making recommendations for changes to item numbers. The RACGP response also highlights that restrictions of some CT angiography to specialist-only requesting creates unnecessary barriers to patient access.