9Ultrasound services — R‑type eligible services

9 Ultrasound services — R‑type eligible services

(1) Items 55028 to 55854 (except items 55600 and 55603), if marked with the symbol (R), apply to an ultrasound service (the eligible service) only if the service is performed:

(a) under the professional supervision of a specialist or a consultant physician in the practice of his or her specialty who is available:

(i) to monitor and influence the conduct and diagnostic quality of the examination; and

(ii) if necessary, to attend on the patient personally; or

(b) under the professional supervision of a practitioner who:

(i) is not a specialist or consultant physician; and

(ii) meets the requirement of subrule (2); and

(iii) is available to monitor and influence the conduct and diagnostic quality of the examination and, if necessary, to attend on the patient personally; or

(c) in the circumstance mentioned in subrule (3), and under the professional supervision of a practitioner who is available:

(i) to monitor and influence the conduct and diagnostic quality of the examination; and

(ii) if necessary, to attend on the patient personally; or

(d) if paragraph (a), (b) or (c) cannot be complied with:

(i) in an emergency; or

(ii) in a location that is not less than 30 kilometres by the most direct road route from another practice where services that comply with paragraph (a) or (b) are available.

(2) For subparagraph (1) (b) (ii), the requirement is that, between 1 September 1997 and 31 August 1999, at least 50 services were rendered by or on behalf of the practitioner at the location where the eligible service was rendered, and the rendering of those services entitled payment of medicare benefits.
(3) For paragraph (1) (c), the circumstance is that, between 1 September 1997 and 31 August 1999, at least 50 services were rendered in nursing homes or patients’ residences by or on behalf of the practitioner, and the rendering of those services entitled payment of medicare benefits.