Patients could be paying hundreds of dollars more for critical medical scans because they're not shopping around. An ABC investigation into out-of-pocket costs has found imaging centres charge some of the largest gap fees outside of hospitals.
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00:00 Jo O'Halloran has pancreatic cancer and needs regular scans to check if her treatment is
00:07 working.
00:08 The MRI scan, not one cent, is covered by Medi-Cal.
00:12 The scans will cost her $3,500 a year for the rest of her life.
00:17 It's horrible.
00:18 It's really, apart from dealing with the diagnosis, it's then the financial pressure and stress
00:23 of it is huge.
00:26 Gapping is the single biggest out-of-pocket cost for patients outside of hospital fees.
00:32 And now the industry is warning it's getting worse.
00:35 For the first time in forever, the bulk billing rate is actually going backwards.
00:39 That means more patients paying gap fees.
00:42 And the ABC has found there are big differences in the amounts charged from one clinic to
00:47 another.
00:48 For a pregnancy ultrasound, the out-of-pocket cost can vary by $150, while for a lower back
00:55 CT, it's nearly $200.
00:58 And prices can vary by $50 for the same x-ray at the same radiology chain, just at a different
01:04 location.
01:05 Every day we see patients walk away because of the cost.
01:09 Scans can be free at public hospitals, but patient groups warn there are long waiting
01:13 lists.
01:14 It's very financially toxic and challenging for these patients.
01:19 Radiologists say they're battling with rising rents and wages, as well as a 20-year Medicare
01:24 freeze that was only lifted in 2020.
01:28 Even then, it's indexed at just 1.6 per cent, well below inflation.
01:33 Basically our industry has just been gradually squeezed.
01:36 Bulk billing for radiology is still higher than the general Medicare average for bulk
01:41 billing.
01:43 Patients are being urged to shop around.
01:45 [BLANK_AUDIO]