No More Than Two Ultrasounds

Please be aware that no more than two ultrasounds for the same patient on any one day can be performed.  Medicare have strict guidelines regarding this.

If a request form lists more than two ultrasounds, then additional ultrasounds will need to be booked on a different day. Please note though that the 7 day rule still applies, and once one study is performed any additional studies on the request form need to be performed within 7 days.

If more than one bilateral MSK ultrasound is requested then this will need to be booked on two separate days.

• Example 1:  Bilateral knees and thyroid ultrasound on request  - can be done on same day.  Whilst this can be seen as three scans, from a Medicare perspective the bilateral knees is combined into one item number so is considered one ultrasound.
  
• Example 2:  Bilateral knees and bilateral hips – cannot be done on same day.
  
• Example 3:  Bilateral knees, bilateral hips and thyroid ultrasound – cannot all be performed on same day, must be booked over two or three days depending on booking availability.
  
• Example 4:  Unilateral knee, unilateral hip, bilateral feet – cannot be performed on the same day. Must be booked over two days with two on one day and one on a second day.
  
• Example 5:  Bilateral feet/ankles – can be booked on same day.
  
• Example 6:  Renal and pelvic Ultrasound – Cannot be booked on same day. Medicare rules state that there must be 24 hours between scans.
  
• Example 7:  Abdo and pelvic Ultrasound – can be booked on the same day but preferable to be booked on two separate days due to the preparations i.e. fasting and drinking.
  

Always book in accordance to reserves and allow enough time for scans to be performed.  If not sure, check with a senior sonographer and make sure that notes are entered into the patient record.