Not all health providers are able to request all MRI services—that means that different services will be requested by different health providers. In addition, not all MRI machines can provide Medicare-eligible services. This fact sheet explains the difference between MRI units and requester rights.

Full and partial Medicare-eligible MRI units

Full Medicare-eligible MRI units may provide all the MRI items listed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) with a Medicare rebate for the patient.

Partial Medicare-eligible MRI units may only provide a subset of MRI items listed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) for which there is a Medicare benefit for the patient as follows:

• six GP requested items for Patients under the age of 16
• four GP requested items for Patients 16 years and over
• five specialist and consultant physician requested cancer staging items and breast screening services for woman at risk and under 50 years of age
• three modifying items
• four interim listed PIP Breast MRI items
• six existing items for Crohn’s disease.

A summary of the requirements for each MRI items is tabled below:

Item Range	Status	Description	Requester	Access
63001-63482	Existing items	MRI items	specialist consultant physician	Full Medicare-eligible
63507-63523	Existing items (introduced 1.11.2012)	MRI items for patients under the age of 16	Medical practitioners other than specialist or consultant physicians	Full Medicare-eligible; and partial Medicare-eligible
63464-63476	Existing items	Existing Cancer staging & breast screening items	specialist; or consultant physician	Full Medicare-eligible; and Partial Medicare-eligible
63491-63497	Existing items	MRI modifying items	All medical practitioners	Full Medicare-eligible; and partial Medicare-eligible
63501 63502 63504 63505	Interim items	Interim listed PIP breast MRI	All medical practitioners	Any MRI unit (eligible or ineligible) that: is accreditatied under the Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation Scheme (DIAS) operates a dedicated breast coil.
63551-63561	Existing Items (introduced 1.11.2013)	MRI items for all patients 16 years of age and older	Medical practitioners other than specialist or consultant physicians	Full Medicare-eligible and partial Medicare-eligible
63740 63741 63743 63744 63746 63747	Existing Items (introduced 1.11.2014)	MRI items for Crohn’s disease	Specialist or consultant physician	Full Medicare-eligible; and partial Medicare-eligible