MRI scans causing anxiety, claustrophobia as access to new machines becomes 'licencing' issue

For Julia Robertson, the only thing possibly worse than being told she might have a brain tumour was having the scan to confirm the diagnosis. However, Australia's system of licensing MRI machines for Medicare rebates mean patients are typically only bulk-billed when they go to older machines. Children, overweight and regional patients suffer Another unintended consequence of the licensing system, Dr Lawler said, was that some doctors referred patients for a CT scan instead of an MRI because it was easier to find one that bulk-billed. MRI's at a glance: MRI's use magnetic imaging to produce high-quality scans compared to radiation-based scanners There are 212 fully licensed MRI machines in Australia,157 partially licensed machines, and about 160 don't have a licence at all Licensed machines include 130 in NSW, 85, 79, 23, 33, 9, 7 and 3 The college said patients in regional or remote areas who needed a bulk-billed MRI also had to travel longer distances. Licensing all MRI machines would cost $400 million The College of Radiologists disputed those figures and said removing the licensing system would not lead to more MRI scans.