The Minister for Health has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

Medicare Diagnostic Imaging Services

The information on the Medicare benefits paid at in-hospital rates and out-of-hospital rates for diagnostic imaging services for 2009-10 and 2010-11 has been provided on the following basis:

The table below provides information on:

(a) the ten private providers who received the most revenue for each of the broad types of service, including totals for each provider for 2009-10;

(b) information on public hospital diagnostic imaging providers as a total figure reflecting diagnostic imaging service provided to private patients in public hospitals; and

(c) information on all other providers as a total figure.

(1) Location Specific Provider Number is a Diagnostic Imaging practice and may comprise individual or multiple practitioners

(2) Benefits paid for Medicare 'fee-for-service' claims (excluding Bulk Bill Incentive payments)

Note: Public hospital LSPN's may provide services to private patients

The table below provides information on;

(a) the ten private providers who received the most revenue for each of the broad types of service, including totals for each provider for 2010-11;

(b) information on public hospital diagnostic imaging providers as a total figure reflecting diagnostic imaging services provided to private patients in public hospitals; and

(c) information on all other providers as a total figure.

(1) Location Specific Provider Number is a Diagnostic Imaging practice and may comprise individual or multiple practitioners

(2) Benefits paid for Medicare 'fee-for-service' claims (excluding Bulk Bill Incentive payments)

Note: Public hospital LSPN's may provide services to private patients

Medicare Pathology Services

The information on the Medicare benefits paid at in-hospital rates and out-of-hospital rates for pathology services for 2009-10 and 2010-11 has been provided on the following basis:

The table below provides information on;

(a) the ten private providers who received the most revenue for each of the broad types of service, including totals for each provider for 2009-10;

(b) information on public hospital pathology providers as a total figure; and

(c) information on all other private providers as a total figure.

(1) Approved Pathology Authority is an entity that may comprise multiple practitioners

(2) Benefits paid for Medicare 'fee-for-service' claims (excluding Bulk Bill Incentive payments)

Note: Public hospital APA's may provide services to private patients

The table below provides information on;

(a) the ten private providers who received the most revenue for each of the broad types of service, including totals for each provider for 2010-11;

(b) information on public pathology providers as a total figure; and

(c) information on all other providers as a total figure.