❓ A WA parliamentary question investigates the cost-effectiveness of providing MRI services in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, comparing patient transport costs to Perth with the potential costs of purchasing and operating an MRI machine locally. The response provides detailed cost breakdowns for both scenarios.
AnsweredQoN 2786Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(a) 2007;
(b) 2006;
(c) 2005;
(d) 2004; and
(e) 2003?
(2) Of the above patients how many utilised the Patient Assistance Transport Scheme (PATS) in each of the following years and what was the total PATS amount spent in each of the following years for the purposes of undergoing an MRI scan in Perth:
(a) 2007;
(b) 2006;
(c) 2005;
(d) 2004; and
(e) 2003?
(3) What is the estimated cost to purchase and install an MRI machine in Kalgoorlie Boulder?
(4) What is the estimated operational costs to operate an MRI machine in Kalgoorlie Boulder?
(5) What is the average cost to perform an MRI scan?
(b) 2006;
(c) 2005;
(d) 2004; and
(e) 2003?
(2) Of the above patients how many utilised the Patient Assistance Transport Scheme (PATS) in each of the following years and what was the total PATS amount spent in each of the following years for the purposes of undergoing an MRI scan in Perth:
(a) 2007;
(b) 2006;
(c) 2005;
(d) 2004; and
(e) 2003?
(3) What is the estimated cost to purchase and install an MRI machine in Kalgoorlie Boulder?
(4) What is the estimated operational costs to operate an MRI machine in Kalgoorlie Boulder?
(5) What is the average cost to perform an MRI scan?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 November 2007
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
28 days
(1)
Year
Number
(a)
2006/2007
61
(b)
2005/2006
45
(c)
2004/2005
60
(d)
2003/2004
118
(e)
2002/2003
67
(2) All of the above (351) patients used the Patient Assisted Transport Scheme (PATS).
Year
($) Cost
(a)
2006/2007
$12,149.97
(b)
2005/2006
$10,696.45
(c)
2004/2005
$16,565.88
(d)
2003/2004
$15,800.64
(e)
2002/2003
$ 8,588.23
(3) MRI are extremely expensive to purchase, house and run. Indicative capital costs are: MRI machine approximately $2 million; installation and transport costs approximately $200,000; site works with appropriate radio frequency shielding within the building approximately $100,000; construction cost of the building is approximately $300,000. The total cost would therefore be approximately $2.6 million.
(4) Operating costs would include: maintenance contract at approximately $150,000 per annum; Picture Archival Communications System (PACS) information storage costs approximately $50,000 per annum; ongoing staff salary costs for an average of eight scans per day approximately $150,000 per annum; training for the medical imaging technologist on site approximately $25,000 and could take up to three months; the MRI scan reporting costs, at an average of eight scans per day, approximately $250,000 per annum. The estimated ongoing operating costs would therefore be $625,000 per annum.
(5) The average cost of an MRI scan in a setting such as Kalgoorlie Hospital, where there are fewer patients requiring a MRI scan compared with a centre where the machine is fully utilised, would be much higher than the rebate offered by Medicare ($492.80 per scan for a privately referred non-inpatient on a licensed machine).
A fully utilised MRI machine would service approximately 2,000 patients a year. Depending on the complexity of examinations, it is estimated that the cost would be in the range of $400 to $700 per MRI scan. This would include the cost of capital, amortised over the approximate economic life of a MRI machine and the cost of reading the MRI by a specialist radiologist.
By way of comparison, based on the current demand of patients being sent to Perth from Kalgoorlie medical specialists for MRI scans (ie, significantly lower than full utilisation of an MRI machine), the cost could be up to $8,000 per examination should MRIs be undertaken at Kalgoorlie Hospital.
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Year
Number
(a)
2006/2007
61
(b)
2005/2006
45
(c)
2004/2005
60
(d)
2003/2004
118
(e)
2002/2003
67
(2) All of the above (351) patients used the Patient Assisted Transport Scheme (PATS).
Year
($) Cost
(a)
2006/2007
$12,149.97
(b)
2005/2006
$10,696.45
(c)
2004/2005
$16,565.88
(d)
2003/2004
$15,800.64
(e)
2002/2003
$ 8,588.23
(3) MRI are extremely expensive to purchase, house and run. Indicative capital costs are: MRI machine approximately $2 million; installation and transport costs approximately $200,000; site works with appropriate radio frequency shielding within the building approximately $100,000; construction cost of the building is approximately $300,000. The total cost would therefore be approximately $2.6 million.
(4) Operating costs would include: maintenance contract at approximately $150,000 per annum; Picture Archival Communications System (PACS) information storage costs approximately $50,000 per annum; ongoing staff salary costs for an average of eight scans per day approximately $150,000 per annum; training for the medical imaging technologist on site approximately $25,000 and could take up to three months; the MRI scan reporting costs, at an average of eight scans per day, approximately $250,000 per annum. The estimated ongoing operating costs would therefore be $625,000 per annum.
(5) The average cost of an MRI scan in a setting such as Kalgoorlie Hospital, where there are fewer patients requiring a MRI scan compared with a centre where the machine is fully utilised, would be much higher than the rebate offered by Medicare ($492.80 per scan for a privately referred non-inpatient on a licensed machine).
A fully utilised MRI machine would service approximately 2,000 patients a year. Depending on the complexity of examinations, it is estimated that the cost would be in the range of $400 to $700 per MRI scan. This would include the cost of capital, amortised over the approximate economic life of a MRI machine and the cost of reading the MRI by a specialist radiologist.
By way of comparison, based on the current demand of patients being sent to Perth from Kalgoorlie medical specialists for MRI scans (ie, significantly lower than full utilisation of an MRI machine), the cost could be up to $8,000 per examination should MRIs be undertaken at Kalgoorlie Hospital.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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