Injured workers to be hit with out of pocket expenses for x-rays, scans   

5 June 2018
The Age


Injured workers needing x-rays and scans would be left out of pocket under changes to the workers' compensation scheme, doctors and radiologists have warned.   

The Australian Diagnostic Imaging Association (ADIA), the NSW branch of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) have raised concerns that a new fee schedule based on Medicare rates will disadvantage patients needing access to x-rays, CT and MRI scans.

The medical groups said the new schedule would provide lower fees for MRI and CT services than have been previously provided. They said this meant that patient care may be compromised to save costs for the government insurance agency icare.


Changes to the fees paid for radiology services for injured workers has angered the medical profession.


The groups representing doctors and radiologists have also complained the government did not listen to their concerns before making the changes which take effect this month. The groups say they were given little warning of many "confused" changes to the fee schedule which was previously based on AMA recommendations.

The medical groups say the changes mean patients will no longer be prioritised based on their need or desire to return to work because the government will no longer pay above Medicare rates for their private services. The government has also encouraged the sector to prioritise patients based on their medical needs.


The medical groups said they have been prioritising WorkCover patients who were compensated for higher private service fees.

"Patients may not be able to go to their provider of choice because the new icare fees are less than private fees in many cases," the medical groups said in a joint statement. "Alternatively, patients may be forced to pay out of their own pocket to get the care they need for workplace injuries."

The radiologists say their job in workers' compensation cases involves determining the cause of an injury and not just recommending the treatment required.

A spokesman for icare said it conducted a comprehensive review, "including significant stakeholder consultation" before introducing changes aimed at "ensuring diagnostic imaging providers charge appropriate amounts and are no longer able to incur fees several times the Medicare rate".

“This strikes a balance between maintaining quality services and support for injured workers and ensuring the best use of premium dollars," the spokesman said.

“No injured worker will be disadvantaged by the changes and there will be no change to workers’ access to imaging services. As per legislation, icare will continue to cover services as referred by general practitioners and specialists.”

Doctors and radiologists have raised concerns about changes to radiology fees under the workers compensation scheme

Doctors and radiologists have raised concerns about changes to radiology fees under the workers compensation scheme
Photo: Jessica Shapiro

NSW Greens’ industrial relations spokesman David Shoebridge said the WorkCover scheme needs to ensure value for money for medical services.

“But that cannot come at the cost of reduced access to radiology for injured workers,” he said.

“What would be intolerable would be injured workers being out of pocket for the cost of medical reports and investigations following a workplace injury

We know the coalition can't be trusted with Medicare and bulk-billing.   

Injured Workers Would Be Left Out Of Pocket

You're  a bit late on this one WhatNot. When the Carr gov't (that's the ALP - the workers friend) reformed the Compensation Act appeals allowed to challenge adverse findings were reduced to about 3. Refugees had at the same time 5 avenues of appeal against adverse findings.  AUSTRALIANS don't matter.

juliar wrote on Jun 5^th, 2018 at 11:34am:


Pssst - these doctors and radiologist vote Liberal ???

These are your mates being screwed over  ????