Breast cancer MRI added to Medicare

Women with or suspected of having breast cancer will be able to claim Medicare benefits for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, from 1 November 2019.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said approximately 14,000 patients each year, predominantly women, wouldbenefit from these services.

“The Morrison Government has added these new MRI services to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) to ensure women vulnerable to breast cancer have affordable access to MRI,” Mr Vasta said.

Medicare rebates will be available for MRI scans for:

·         Diagnosis of breast cancer in patients where other imaging was inconclusive and a biopsy has not been possible; and

·         Pre-surgical planning for patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, where there is discrepancy between clinical assessment and conventional imaging assessment.

Mr Vasta said the new items for breast MRI would reduce the out-of-pocket costs faced by breast cancer patients.

“The Morrison’s Government commitment to Medicare is rock solid, with an additional $6 billion committed to Medicare benefits in the 2019-20 Budget,” Mr Vasta said.

The Government will provide $32.6 million for Medicare benefits for the services.