Scanfinder › Referrals and bulk billing
Imaging referrals
Your referral or imaging request is the clinic's starting point. Keep it beside you when you call: the wording tells the clinic whether it can do the scan, how to prepare you and what Medicare billing may apply.
You do not need to translate the form into medical language for Scanfinder. Select the broad scan types written on it — CT, MRI, ultrasound and so on — then let the clinic check the exact exam.
Can I take my referral to any clinic?
Generally, yes. A request that names a particular practice is a suggestion, not a restriction — you can take it to another practice that performs the scan and still claim any Medicare rebate that applies. If anything on the form confuses the new clinic, it will contact the referrer, not send you away.
The practical exceptions are clinical: some scans need equipment or protocols only certain practices run, and for MRI the machine must be Medicare-listed for a rebate to apply. The clinic will tell you when it reads the form.
Do I need a referral at all?
For Medicare to contribute, almost all imaging needs a written request — usually from your GP, specialist or dentist; physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopaths can request certain x-rays. Without a request, some practices will still scan you privately, but you pay the full fee and no rebate applies.
How long does an imaging referral last?
Imaging requests do not carry a standard expiry date the way specialist referrals do. But the form describes a clinical question asked at a point in time, so if yours is months old, ring the referring doctor and confirm the scan is still wanted before you book — the clinic may check the same thing.
Who wrote the request matters for MRI
Some MRI items can only be claimed when a specialist requests the scan; a smaller set works from a GP request. The clinic checks the item and its own Medicare status while you are booking — our Medicare and MRI guide explains the system.
The four questions to ask when you book
Can you do the scan on this form; what preparation is needed; when is the next appointment; and what will I pay after any Medicare rebate? If the trip is long, also confirm the service runs on that day — visiting services in smaller towns often run on set days.