31Multiple services

31 Multiple services

(1) If a medical practitioner renders 2 or more diagnostic imaging services for the same patient on the same day, the fees set out in the items that apply to the services, other than the item with the highest fee, are reduced by $5.

(2) If a medical practitioner renders at least 1 R-type diagnostic imaging service and at least 1 consultation service for the same patient on the same day, the highest fee, set out in the items that apply to diagnostic imaging services rendered by the practitioner for that patient on that day, is reduced:

(a) if the fee for the relevant consultation is at least $40 — by $35; or

(b) if that fee is less than $40 but more than $15 — by $15; or

(c) if that fee is less than $15 — by the amount of that fee.

(3) For subrule (2), if more than 1 consultation has occurred, the relevant consultation is the consultation having the highest fee set out in the items that apply to the consultation.

(4) If a medical practitioner renders at least 1 R-type diagnostic imaging service and at least 1 non-consultation service for the same patient on the same day, the highest fee that applies to any diagnostic imaging services performed by the medical practitioner for the same patient on the same day, is reduced by $5.

(5) If a medical practitioner renders an R-type diagnostic imaging service, a consultation and a non-consultation service for the same patient on the same day, the sum of the reductions under subrules (2) and (4) must not exceed the highest fee that applies to any diagnostic imaging services rendered by the medical practitioner for the same patient on the same day.

(6) Rule 30 applies in addition to this rule.

(7) However, if a medical practitioner provides:

(a) 2 or more vascular ultrasound services for the same patient on the same day; and

(b) 1 or more other diagnostic imaging services for that patient on that day;

the amount of the fees payable for the vascular ultrasound services is taken, for the purposes of this rule, to be an amount payable for 1 diagnostic imaging service.

(8) This rule does not apply to diagnostic imaging services that are rendered in a remote area by a medical practitioner for whom a remote area exemption under section 23DX of the Act is in force for that area.

(9) In this rule:

consultation means a service under an item listed in Groups A1 to A9 of the general medical services table.

highest fee means the highest fee specified for an item in the first claim submitted to the Commission in relation to the services concerned.