National spending and uptake of mobile radiology services in aged care facilities: an opportunity to improve access remains

Aged care facility residents encounter challenges obtaining timely, clinically recommended and cost-efficient healthcare services. In June 2018, the Australian Medical Services Advisory Committee recommended the listing of a Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) rebate for the call out fee (item 57541) for mobile X-ray services in aged care facilities for conditions that contribute to hospitalisation risk of older individuals, that is, falls, pneumonia and acute abdomen or bowel obstruction.

We evaluated mobile radiology services utilisation by aged care residents since the MBS item implementation in November 2019. Our study aimed to: (i) evaluate MBS subsidies spent on mobile radiological services; (ii) estimate the per 1000 resident service uptake; and (iii) describe national differences in uptake...