31MRI and MRA services — eligible equipment

31 MRI and MRA services — eligible equipment

(1) For rule 27, equipment that complies with this rule is eligible equipment.

(2) The equipment must be located in Australia in a medical practice, or the radiology department of a hospital, that offers a comprehensive range of diagnostic imaging procedures.

(3) For a medical practice or hospital located in a non-metropolitan area:

(a) the equipment must have been installed in a medical practice, or hospital, in Australia before 7.30 pm on 12 May 1998, Eastern Standard Time; or

(b) if the equipment was uninstalled at the time and on the day mentioned in paragraph (a), it must:

(i) have been purchased or leased (under a contract, in writing, that did not contain an option to cancel) before that time on that day; and

(ii) on or before 18 October 1999, be in use for services for which a medicare benefit is claimed; or

(c) the equipment must be replacement equipment for equipment mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b).

Note Equipment relocated to a new location may continue to comply with subrule (3). However, to continue to be eligible equipment, the equipment would have to continue to comply with subrule (2).

(4) For a medical practice or hospital located in a metropolitan area the equipment must:

(a) have been installed in a medical practice, or hospital, in Australia before 7.30 pm on 12 May 1998, Eastern Standard Time; or

(b) if uninstalled at that time on that day, have been purchased or leased (under a contract, in writing, that did not contain an option to cancel) before 10 February 1998; or

(c) be replacement equipment for equipment mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b).

Note Equipment relocated to a new location may continue to comply with subrule (4). However, to continue to be eligible equipment, the equipment would have to continue to comply with subrule (2).

(5) Equipment mentioned in paragraph (3) (a) or (b) or (4) (a) or (b) ceases to be eligible equipment when replaced by other equipment.

(6) The Commission must have been given, before 11 October 1999:

(a) the statutory declaration, under subrule 30 (2), in relation to the equipment; and

(b) if paragraph (3) (b) or (4) (b) applies, the copy contract mentioned in subrule 30 (3).

(7) For this rule:

comprehensive, in relation to a range of diagnostic imaging procedures, means that the range includes x‑ray, ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) procedures.