Shoulder and Knee Ultrasounds

Illawara Radiology Group scans patients that require shoulder and knee ultrasounds in accordance with the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). In May 2003 the Health Insurance Commission issued amendments to the benefits payable for ultrasound of the shoulder and knee.

The amendments outline that Medicare will only rebate these examinations when the request form specifically includes one of the following suspected pathologies…

Shoulder Ultrasound

Benefits are payable when referred with suspicion of the following clinical conditions:

  • Evaluation of injury to tendon, muscle or tendon/muscle junctions including tears, calcification or tendinosis
  • Rotator cuff tear/calcification/tendinosis of biceps, subscapular, supraspinatus or infraspinatus
  • Biceps subluxation
  • Capsulitis and Bursitis
  • Evaluation of mass, including ganglion
  • Occult fracture
  • Acromioclavicular joint pathology

Benefits are not payable when referred for non-specific shoulder pain alone.

Knee Ultrasound

Benefits are payable when referred with suspicion of the following clinical conditions:

  • Abnormality of tendons or bursa about the knee
  • Meniscal cyst, popliteal fossa cyst, mass or pseudomass
  • Nerve entrapment, nerve or nerve sheath tumour

Benefits are not payable when referred for non-specific knee pain alone or other known conditions including:

  • Meniscal and cruciate ligament tears
  • Assessment of chondral surfaces