Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has welcomed the announcement of the deregulation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Licensing as part of the Federal Budget.
Mr Chester said the deregulation would allow clinics and providers to deliver Medicare-subsidised MRI services in Gippsland.
“The cost of MRIs can leave patients out of pocket hundreds of dollars and hinder timely diagnosis and treatment,” Mr Chester said.
“From November this year patients will now be able to access affordable and timely treatment in Gippsland.
Mr Chester encouraged local providers to support patients by providing appropriate access to bulk billing.
“This reform is designed to improve accessibility for Gippslanders so it is essential that the services are affordable for locals,” Mr Chester said.