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This instrument is the Health Insurance (Diagnostic Imaging Services Table) Regulations (No. 2) 2020.
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Commonwealth legislation
This law sets Medicare rebate rules and fees for diagnostic imaging (X‑ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound, PET/nuclear) and limits Medicare funding to services using equipment within specified age bands. It creates capital‑sensitivity rules, an exemption and reinstatement process for owners who cannot replace old equipment, and review rights for exemption decisions.
It affects patients (rebate eligibility), imaging providers and practitioners (supervision, billing and reporting obligations), and equipment owners (compliance and upgrade duties).
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Direct links to the current provisions in Health Insurance (Diagnostic Imaging Services Table) Regulations (No. 2) 2020.
This instrument is the Health Insurance (Diagnostic Imaging Services Table) Regulations (No. 2) 2020.
This instrument is made under the Health Insurance Act 1973.
For the purposes of section 4AA of the Health Insurance Act 1973, Schedule 1 is prescribed as a table of diagnostic imaging services.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
This instrument is the Health Insurance (Diagnostic Imaging Services Table) Regulations (No. 2) 2020.
This instrument is made under the Health Insurance Act 1973.
For the purposes of section 4AA of the Health Insurance Act 1973, Schedule 1 is prescribed as a table of diagnostic imaging services.
Schedule 1—Diagnostic imaging services table
Note: See section 4.
A reference to a diagnostic imaging service in an item in Part 2 includes a reference to the undertaking of the diagnostic imaging procedure used for rendering the service.
A reference in this Schedule to an item includes a reference to an item relating to a health service that, under a determination in force under subsection 3C(1) of the Act, is treated as if there were an item in the table that relates to the service.
The Dictionary in Part 3 of this Schedule defines certain words and expressions that are used in this Schedule, and includes references to certain words and expressions that are defined elsewhere in this Schedule.
(1) Subject to Subdivision B, an item in this Schedule does not apply to a service that is performed on diagnostic imaging equipment if the age of the equipment exceeds the applicable life age of the equipment. (2) If reinstatement under clause 1.2.10B is granted in respect of diagnostic imaging equipment, an item in this Schedule does not apply to a service that is performed on that equipment on a day: (a) that is before the day the reinstatement was granted; and (b) on which the age of the equipment exceeded its new effective life age. (3) If: (a) reinstatement under clause 1.2.10B is granted in respect of diagnostic imaging equipment that has not been upgraded; and (b) the equipment is not upgraded within 3 months after the end of the equipment’s new effective life age; an item in this Schedule does not apply to a service that is performed on that equipment on a day that is after the end of 3 months after the end of the equipment’s new effective life age.
Working out age of equipment (1) The date from which the age of equipment is worked out for the purposes of this instrument is: (a) the date the equipment was first installed in Australia; or (b) if the equipment was imported as used equipment—the date of manufacture of the oldest component of the equipment. (2) The applicable life age: (a) for diagnostic imaging equipment that has not been upgraded—is the new effective life age of the equipment; and (b) for diagnostic imaging equipment that has been upgraded—is the maximum extended life age of the equipment. (3) The new effective life age and maximum extended life age for diagnostic imaging equipment are the periods set out in table 1.2.2 for that type of equipment. The type of equipment is defined by the type of service that is rendered using diagnostic imaging procedures carried out using the equipment:
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr><td colspan="5" style="border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Table 1.2.2—Life ages</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:8.54%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Item</span></p></td><td style="width:23.08%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Column 1</span></p><p class="TableHeading"><span>Type of equipment</span></p></td><td style="width:34.6%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Column 2</span></p><p class="TableHeading"><span>Definition of type of equipment</span></p></td><td style="width:16.14%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading" style="text-align:right"><span>Column 3</span></p><p class="TableHeading" style="text-align:right"><span>New effective life age (years)</span></p></td><td style="width:17.64%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading" style="text-align:right"><span>Column 4</span></p><p class="TableHeading" style="text-align:right"><span>Maximum extended life age (years)</span></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width:8.54%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>1</span></p></td><td style="width:23.08%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Ultrasound equipment</span></p></td><td style="width:34.6%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Equipment primarily used in carrying out a diagnostic imaging procedure used in rendering a service to which an item in Group I1 applies</span></p></td><td style="width:16.14%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="text-align:right"><span>10</span></p></td><td style="width:17.64%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="text-align:right"><span>15</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:8.54%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>2</span></p></td><td style="width:23.08%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>CT equipment</span></p></td><td style="width:34.6%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Equipment primarily used in carrying out a diagnostic imaging procedure used in rendering a service to which an item in Group I2 applies</span></p></td><td style="width:16.14%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="text-align:right"><span>10</span></p></td><td style="width:17.64%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="text-align:right"><span>15</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:8.54%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>3</span></p></td><td style="width:23.08%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Mammography equipment</span></p></td><td style="width:34.6%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Equipment primarily used in carrying out a diagnostic imaging procedure used in rendering a service to which an item in Subgroup 10 of Group I3 applies</span></p></td><td style="width:16.14%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="text-align:right"><span>10</span></p></td><td style="width:17.64%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="text-align:right"><span>15</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:8.54%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>4</span></p></td><td style="width:23.08%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Angiography equipment</span></p></td><td style="width:34.6%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Equipment primarily used in carrying out a diagnostic imaging procedure used in rendering a service to which an item in Subgroup 13 of Group I3 applies</span></p></td><td style="width:16.14%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="text-align:right"><span>10</span></p></td><td style="width:17.64%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="text-align:right"><span>15</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:8.54%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>5</span></p></td><td style="width:23.08%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Other diagnostic radiology equipment</span></p></td><td style="width:34.6%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Equipment primarily used in carrying out a diagnostic imaging procedure used in rendering a service to which an item in Subgroups 1 to 9, 12, 14, 15 or 17 of Group I3 applies</span></p></td><td style="width:16.14%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="text-align:right"><span>15</span></p></td><td style="width:17.64%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="text-align:right"><span>20</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:8.54%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>6</span></p></td><td style="width:23.08%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Nuclear medicine imaging equipment (other than for PET)</span></p></td><td style="width:34.6%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Equipment primarily used in carrying out a diagnostic imaging procedure used in rendering a service to which an item in Group I4 applies (other than items</span><span> </span><span>61523 to 61647)</span></p></td><td style="width:16.14%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="text-align:right"><span>10</span></p></td><td style="width:17.64%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="text-align:right"><span>15</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:8.54%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>7</span></p></td><td style="width:23.08%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>MRI equipment</span></p></td><td style="width:34.6%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Equipment primarily used in carrying out a diagnostic imaging procedure used in rendering a service to which an item in Group I5 applies</span></p></td><td style="width:16.14%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="text-align:right"><span>10</span></p></td><td style="width:17.64%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="text-align:right"><span>20</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>
Upgrades (4) Diagnostic imaging equipment has been upgraded if: (a) an additional reasonable investment has been made, within the period mentioned in subclause (5), that improves the overall performance of the imaging system so that it is equivalent to new equipment supplied in Australia at the time of the improvement; or (b) in the case of CT or angiography equipment that was not more than 15 years old on 1 January 2015—an additional reasonable investment has been made before 1 January 2016 that improves the overall performance of the imaging system so that it is equivalent to new equipment supplied in Australia at the time of the improvement; or (c) the equipment has been accredited under The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists’ Mammography Quality Assurance Program. (5) For the purposes of paragraph (4)(a), the period is: (a) the new effective life age for the equipment; or (b) for equipment for which an exemption under clause 1.2.8 has been granted—the exemption period of the exemption; or (c) for equipment for which reinstatement under clause 1.2.10B has been granted—3 months after the end of the equipment’s new effective life age.
The relevant proprietor for diagnostic imaging equipment is: (a) if the equipment is ordinarily located at diagnostic imaging premises—the proprietor of the premises; or (b) if the equipment: (i) is not ordinarily located at diagnostic imaging premises; and (ii) is ordinarily located, when not in use, at a base for mobile diagnostic imaging equipment; the proprietor of the base.
Applying for exemption (1) The relevant proprietor for diagnostic imaging equipment may apply to the Secretary for an exemption under clause 1.2.8 in respect of the equipment.
Note: For relevant proprietor, see clause 1.2.4.
(2) The application must:
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.