X-Ray — fast facts

General X-Ray (XR). Fast, painless 2D imaging — the most commonly performed diagnostic test in Australia.

Key facts

• Length: ~10 minutes per body region imaged (pre-set in the RIS)
• Booking: Walk-in — no appointment needed; patients imaged next in queue
• Prep: None for General XR (Bone Density, Dental and Mammography have their own guides)
• Radiation: Low-dose ionising radiation. Always ask women of childbearing age about pregnancy before booking

Common indications

• Suspected fracture or dislocation
• Bone/joint disease (osteoarthritis, cancer)
• Pre-surgical planning
• Foreign body (swallowed, inhaled, impaled)
• Chest conditions — pneumonia, heart failure, lung cancer (CXR is the most-referred XR worldwide)

Referral requirements

Referrals need patient ID (name, DOB, address), referrer ID (name + provider number), body region + exam, clinical indication, and date. Written, electronic or verbal (where permitted).

Who can refer what:

• GPs, specialists, consultant physicians — all XR
• Dentists — OPG, Lat Ceph, Head, C-Spine, Bone Age (Wrist), Chest, Abdomen, Extremities
• Chiropractors — Hip, Pelvis, single spinal region, 2-region spine only
• Physios & Osteopaths — Hip, Pelvis, single/2/3/4-region spine (3–4 region limited to 1 per year)
• Podiatrists — Lower extremity (foot, ankle, tib/fib, knee)
• Nurse practitioners — Extremities, shoulder, clavicle, hip, pelvis, chest, ribs, sternum

Bulk-billing

Most General XR is bulk-billed when referred by an eligible practitioner. The trap is referrer mismatch — e.g. a podiatrist referring a lumbar spine, or a chiropractor referring a 3-region spine. In those cases there's no Medicare rebate at all.

Allied-referred 3 or 4 region spine (58120/58121) — patient can only claim one per year. Ask if they've had allied-referred full-spine imaging in the last 12 months; if yes, they're fully OOP.

MBS codes (quick reference)

Bilateral / non-contiguous: annotate side + region on invoice with Medicare modifier — NFC (Not for Comparison, bilateral) or NCBA (Non-Contiguous Body Area, same side, not touching). Consultation item 104 cannot be billed with any XR.