You’ll soon be slugged hundreds for X-rays and scan tests, as Medicare cover shrinks

NEED an x-ray or scan tests? You’ll soon be hundreds out of pocket, as the government abandons a key election commitment on Medicare bulk billing.

YOU’LL pay more for X-rays and scans with out of pocket costs to rise to over $200 per screening, as the Turnbull Government prepares to ditch its election promise to raise Medicare rebates for the tests.

The broken promise will be a particular slug on cancer patients who need multiple tests for diagnosis and to check their cancer has not returned.

On the eve of the 2016 election, the Turnbull Government pledged to index the Medicare rebate for medical imaging for the first time in 19 years to head off a damaging advertising campaign from radiologists.

However, just weeks from the May budget, the sector fears the government will not honour the promise because it would cost the government over $2 billion.

As a result the out of pocket cost of X-rays and scans could rise from an average $100 to $120 over coming years, out of pocket costs for MRIs will rise to over $200 per scan.

Cost of an MRI could skyrocket to over $200. Picture: iStock

Health Minister Greg Hunt will face cabinet’s razor gang today and is also under pressure to lift the freeze on Medicare rebates for doctor’s visits that has seen doctors abandon bulk billing.

There are concerns he may be unable to deliver on this as well.

The government is today facing a full frontal attack from radiologists over the broken promise.

Radiologists and cancer groups have taken have out full page ads in News Corp papers appealing to the government to keep its election promise to index the Medicare rebates for X-rays and scans in line with inflation.

They warn bulk billing for X-rays and scans could end if the freeze on Medicare rebates continues and it will push up the out of pocket costs ultrasounds, X-rays and MRIs to over $200.

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For patients with cancer who need multiple diagnostic imaging and monthly checks the out of pocket expenses will run into hundreds of dollars a year.

“We’ve taken this action because we hold grave concerns for the Government’s pre-election commitment to unfreeze Medicare rebates specifically to make access to essential diagnostic imaging services more affordable for Australian patients,” Australian Diagnostic Imaging Association chief Pattie Beerens said.

“The average gap for radiology patients is now almost $100 and 300,000 patients a year are forgoing treatment because it’s too expensive.

“We worked tirelessly over many months of extensive negotiation with the Government to reach the agreement. A promise is a promise — and we simply want the Prime Minister to honour it.”

The government promised to index Medicare rebates for scans in the 2016 election. Picture: Thinkstock

A spokesman for Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government is delivering on its election commitment.

“We committed to an independent evaluation, which we have commenced.

“We are working constructively with the diagnostic sector and hope to announce positive steps, in the coming months, which will reduce cost pressures for Australians using diagnostic imaging services,” he said.

“The things we said we would do in the election have been delivered to date.

“Other elements which were committed, were contingent on bulk billing incentives being implemented and will be determined in further consultation with the sector.”

The government won the 2016 election by just one seat after Labor mounted a powerful Medicare campaign over the government’s health cuts.

Brisbane mother of two Emma Cloete says her son had multiple X-rays after he broke his arm 6 months ago and her daughter had an x-ray of her hip on Tuesday.

“The last CAT scan my mum had left her $600 out of pocket,” she said.

“My son needed chest X-rays for pneumonia and we were $100 out of pocket for a basic x-ray,” she said.

“I don’t think they have learned from the election,” she said.

“When people have a serious medical condition, they are not only sick, they are losing income and to have extra costs packed on top of that, is just ridiculous, it can’t just keep happening,” she said.

Brisbane mum Emma Cloete with her son Baden, 7, and daughter Ida, 5. They have had more than 20 X-rays between them in recent months and she couldn't cope if bulk billing ends.

Lisa Edgar from Melbourne says she had to ask her parents to help her pay the hundreds of dollars she faced in out of pocket expenses for scans when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

This included hefty out of pocket costs for multiple scans that continue as doctor monitor her to ensure the cancer does not return.

“I couldn’t afford it, I had to get support from my parents and you feel awful, you don’t want their hard earned savings going on my scans, you feel very vulnerable,” she said.

“Medicare is hugely important to Australians, the government needs to consider the extra burden they are putting on people who are vulnerable,” she said.

Sydney mother of three Sinead Forbes calculated she spent almost $40,000 on out of pocket expenses for health care that was not covered by her health fund or Medicare after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009.

“You have to do those tests because you are trying to save your life,” she says.

“I do think the government should honour their promise because people will put off scans if they can’t afford them, you can ultimately die,” she says.

“It’s almost like immunisation, the later you leave the diagnosis the higher the costs will be,” she said.

Breast scans can save lives. Picture: Getty Images.

The government has raised expectations it will lift the freeze on Medicare rebates doctors visits in the budget after many doctors began abandoning bulk billing.

However there is now speculation the freeze may only be lifted on certain GP item numbers or that GPs will be offered higher compensation for chronic care items instead.

The government is poised to cut payments to businesses offering after hours home visits after a budget blowout in the area.

Medicare rebates for X-rays and scans have not increased for over 19 years.

In that time the out of pocket costs for these scans has skyrocketed by over 117 per cent.

In 2003 the out of pocket cost for an ultrasound was $48.69, that has risen 117 per cent to $105.68.

The out of pocket cost of a CAT scan has risen 63 per cent from $92.06 to $149.84.

The out of pocket cost for an x-ray was $28.05 in 2003, now its $52.54.

Out of pocket costs for an MRI was 4112.10 on 2003 not its $183.97.

Originally published as You’ll soon be slugged hundreds for X-rays and scan tests, as Medicare cover shrinks