18 March 2022
With the MRI for U&I Appeal approaching the $1 million mark, Member for Wannon, Dan Tehan is advocating for an MRI licence, to ensure local patients have access to Medicare-subsidised scans.
Mr Tehan says he is delighted to be working in partnership with Western District Health Service (WDHS) and the community to deliver a Medicare funded MRI licence for the region.“The addition of a Medicare funded MRI licence will help improve access and the level of services provided locally.
The fundraising efforts to date by the Hamilton and wider community leave no one in doubt of the generosity of the community, and their determination to achieve an MRI.That’s why I am working hard to advocate for a Medicare funded MRI licence in this year’s budget,” Mr Tehan said.
MRI scans are commonly used to give a detailed view of the soft tissues of the body, such as muscles, ligaments, brain tissue, discs and blood vessels. They are used by doctors to diagnose and monitor a range of medical conditions including cancer, stroke, trauma and sporting injuries.
WDHS Chief Executive, Rohan Fitzgerald says the licence means that patients can receive a Medicare rebate, reducing costs and ensuring these life-saving scans are accessible to every member of the community.
“We are very grateful to Mr Tehan for supporting our MRI project at Hamilton Base Hospital. MRI licences are granted through a tender process and improve access to scans, by keeping costs down for families.Our community has responded with extraordinary generosity to our MRI campaign so far, and due to the success of the appeal, the procurement process has been initiated with HealthShare Victoria, to ensure we achieve the best-value MRI machine for our region.
Securing the licence is the next step, and we have been in discussions with Mr Tehan for several months to push for an MRI licence to be included in this year’s Federal Budget.
A Medicare-funded MRI licence at Hamilton Base Hospital will mean that people in the Southern Grampians and beyond can get the scans they need, close to home and without high out-of-pocket expenses,” Mr Fitzgerald said.