Post-implementation Review – Department of Health
In the 2012-13 Budget the then Government announced measures to require those performing Medicare-funded diagnostic radiology services (X-ray, angiography and fluoroscopy services) to hold minimum formal qualifications. The measure was a response to concerns that Medicare-funded diagnostic radiology services were being performed by people who did not have adequate training or qualifications. This lack of training potentially posed a quality and safety risk to patients, in particular through unnecessary exposure to radiation. The proposal should have been subject to the preparation of a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS). However, the then Prime Minister granted an exceptional circumstances exemption from the requirement to prepare a RIS to the Department of Health. Consequently, a Post Implementation Review (PIR) was required to be undertaken for these regulations, in line with the Government’s best practice regulation guidelines. The proposal was implemented on 1 November 2012. A PIR was completed by the Department of Health in July 2015 and was assessed as compliant by the Office of Best Practice Regulation. The PIR found that there was no significant impact on diagnostic imaging practices. However, it was observed that since introduction of the measure allied health practitioner practices – in particular, chiropractors – had generally ceased providing Medicare-funded diagnostic radiology services, rather than incur the costs of obtaining the required minimum qualifications. There was also a reduction in requests by allied health practitioners with a consequent saving for Medicare. No other significant effects were observed, but it was considered patients would benefit from higher quality diagnostic radiology services and reduced unnecessary exposure to radiation. Regulatory burden impacts were assessed as zero.
