Women with breast cancer have secured commitments from both the major parties for additional funding for MRI scans – $32.6m from the Morrison government coming in next week’s budget, and $47m from Labor if it wins in May.
The Coalition will use next Tuesday’s budget to create two new Medicare items for MRI of the breast, scans that will enable more accurate diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
If Bill Shorten wins the coming election, Labor is promising to “work with experts” to finalise the design of the new Medicare items that will allow subsidies for scans.
14000 patients will benefit from the creation of the new Medicare items, according to the Government.