Allied Health Professionals

Imaging Guidelines for Referrers

Allied Health Professionals

Referrals from Allied Health Professionals are welcome but there are some restrictions on Medicare rebates.

Physiotherapists/Chiropractors/Osteopaths

Medicare accepted referrals for x-ray of:

  • Hip, Pelvis,
  • Cervical Spine, Thoracic Spine, Lumbar spine, Sacrococcygeal spine,
  • 2 Region Spine, 4 Region spine (1 per calendar year), 3 Region Spine (1 per calendar year).

Podiatrist

  • Ultrasound ankle or heel, mid or forefoot, soft tissue lump
  • X-ray ankle/femur/foot/knee/lower leg/Ankle and lower leg/Foot and ankle/knee and femur/lower leg and knee.

Dentist

  • OPG (impaction-caries)
  • Lateral Cephalometry
  • OPG TMJ assessment
  • Skull
  • Medical/Surgical

Please note: clinical details must be written on the form, OPG does not suffice.

Other services referred by general practitioners/specialists

For a patient to be eligible for a Medicare rebate they must fit one of the following criteria and the applicable condition should be stated on the request form.

Bone density

  • A person aged over 70 years – Unlimited
  • 1 or more fractures have occurred after minimal trauma (this can only be used once for each fracture); or an x-ray which refers to 20% loss of height
  • Monitoring of osteoporosis proven by previous bone densitometry 12 months prior;
  • Scan at least two years prior with a Z score of -1.50 or lower, or T score of -2.50 or lower.
  • Prolonged & current glucocorticoid therapy (as per dose limits outlined in MBS)
  • Conditions associated with excess glucocorticoid secretion;
  • Male hypogonadism; or
  • Female hypogonadism lasting more 6 months before age 45
  • Primary hyperparathyroidism
  • Chronic liver disease;
  • Chronic renal disease;
  • Proven malabsorption disorders (eg. Coeliac or Crohns Disease)
  • Rheumatoid arthritis; or
  • Conditions associated with thyroxine excess
  • Measurement of bone density after 12 months following a significant change in therapy

Mammograms

One of these MUST be stated on referral:

  • Previous breast malignancy in the patient
  • Family history of breast malignancy
  • Symptoms or indications of malignancy found on examination of patient (these may include lump, dense breasts, underlying lump etc)