A written request is not required for the payment of Medicare benefits for a R-type diagnostic imaging service rendered by a medical practitioner in a remote area provided:
- the R-type service is not one for which there is a corresponding NR-type service; and
- the medical practitioner rendering the service has been granted a remote area exemption for that service.
Definition of remote area
The definition of a remote area is one that is more than 30 kilometres by road from:
a) a hospital which provides a radiology service under the direction of a specialist in the specialty of diagnostic radiology; and
b) a free-standing radiology facility under the direction of a specialist in the specialty of diagnostic radiology