Closing the Medicare Rebate gap. Make it happen by taking action.

Lend your support.You can support us by ensuring those making the decisions in Canberra hear your concerns and then take action to support patients.

• Please sign the tear off section of this leaflet and leave it with the reception personnel at your radiology practice. They will then forward it to ADIA for delivery to the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing.

• Go to www.adia.asn.au and express your concern by registering your name on a petition to go to your local Federal Member of Parliament, as well as Government and Opposition health spokespeople.

The Australian Diagnostic Imaging Association (ADIA) represents radiology practices across Australia.

We are also supported by our alliance partner Cancer Voices Australia, a national network providing a forum for people in Australia affected by cancer.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) also supports the indexation of radiology rebates.

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Medicare rebates have not been indexed for over 12 years.

Patient rebates for radiology services have not been indexed for increasing costs such as staffing, utilities and other costs associated with the provision of radiology services since 1997. As a result, many patients are having to pay a higher contribution to the cost of providing radiology services. We are asking for your support to change this situation and to ensure continued access to high quality, affordable radiology services.

Patients need affordable, early and accurate diagnosis.Correct early diagnosis saves lives, cuts hospitalisation time and facilitates less invasive procedures.

However, patients are paying more than they should for radiology services with every passing year. Regardless of their circumstances, all patients - particularly those suffering from chronic conditions and serious diseases such as cancer - need to access affordable, early and accurate diagnosis.

For most services, patient rebates are less than they were in 1997.

Despite a welcome increase in rebates for diagnostic imagingservices in last year’s Federal Budget, the difference between the Medicare rebate that patients receive and the average cost of providing a radiology service has increased dramatically over time. If this erosion continues, patients will not only have to pay more but may even lose access to high quality radiology services in their area.

Dear Minister,

As a patient who relies on radiology services, I expect to be able

to access affordable, quality diagnostic services when and where

I need to.

These services are crucial to providing early and accurate diagnosis

for cancer and other serious and potentially treatable illnesses.

I ask you, as our Minister for Health and Ageing, to please ensure

that radiology rebates are increased and that they are indexed,

as are nearly all other services covered by Medicare.

Further message here

Name (print)

Suburb Post Code

Signature

Services(examples)

1998 Rebate 2010 RebateCPI Adjustment

12 years

CT ScanChest

$259.30 $250.75 31%

X-Ray Spine $50.15 $46.85 34%

MRI Scan Head $424.60 $342.75 43%

Vascular Ultrasound

$147.00 $144.10 30%

Put another way, diagnostic imaging rebates have been excluded from the annual round of indexation of Medicare rebates for over 12 years. They are now (2010/11) on average 30% below the cost of radiology services and this gap is projected to increase to 33% by next year.*

If the radiology service is bulk billed, the rebate is 21% below the cost now (2010/11) and this will increase to 25% by next year.*

It’s time to speak up.

The Medicare rebate for radiology services is, on average, between 20% - 40% less today than it was 12 years ago. In the meantime, the cost of providing quality radiology services has increased.

There is a Government review of the funding of radiology services underway. This is an opportunity for you to help us stop the unsustainable erosion of your rebates.

At a bare minimum, patient rebates for radiology need to be increased and they must be adjusted for inflation.

The table below demonstrates how radiology services are becoming increasingly unaffordable for patients.

*Access Economics survey of nearly 50% of Australia’s comprehensive radiology practices, including practices from all states and territories and all Australian Standard Geographic Classification (ASGC) remote regions.

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