FED: AMA rejects ALP call for suspect doctors names

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-1999
FED: AMA rejects ALP call for suspect doctors names

CANBERRA, Dec 30 AAP - Radiologists embroiled in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
scam should not to named unless they were charged or sued, the Australian Medical Association
(AMA) said yesterday.

AMA Federal President David Brand rejected the ALP's call for Health Minister Michael
Wooldridge to name up to 250 specialist radiologists allegedly involved in attempting
to cheat Medicare.

"Until such time as charges are actually laid, I don't see any reason why these people
should potentially be persecuted," Dr Brand told AAP.

Dr Wooldridge announced last week that fraud and civil charges could be laid against
up to 250 radiologists after a Health Insurance Commission inquiry into the scam.

It's alleged the doctors falsified dates on contracts to buy MRIs to beat a government
deadline which allowed them to claim hundreds of dollars in rebates.

Dr Wooldridge's spokeswoman said yesterday the Health Insurance Act prevented the minister
making the names public.

AAP rmg/rds

KEYWORD: MRI DAYLEAD

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