Shoulder and Knee Ultrasound
Are Your Patients Eligible for a Medicare Rebate?
In May 2003, the Health Commission issued amendments to the benefits payable for Ultrasound of the shoulder and knee. These amendments outline that Medicare will only provide a rebate if the referral specifically includes one of the suspected pathologies:
Shoulder Ultrasound
Benefits are payable when referred with suspicion of the following clinical conditions:
- evaluation of injury to tendon, muscle or tendon/muscle junction including tears, calcification or tendinosis;
- rotator cuff tear/calcification/tendinosis of biceps, subscapular, supraspinatus or infraspinatus;
- biceps subluxation;
- capsulitis and bursitis;
- evaluation of mass, including ganglion;
- occult fracture;
- acromioclavicular joint pathology.
Benefits are not payable when referred for non-specific shoulder pain alone.
Knee Ultrasound
Benefits are payable when referred with suspicion of the following clinical conditions:
- abnormality of tendons or bursae about the knee;
- meniscal cyst, popliteal fossa cyst, mass or pseudomass;
- nerve entrapment, nerve or nerve sheath tumour.
Benefits are not payable when referred for non-specific knee pain alone alone or other knee conditions including:
- meniscal and cruciate ligament tears;
- assessment of chondral surfaces.
If you would like further information, please call132 336.