Cardiac MRI in Myocarditis Diagnosis: New Medicare Item

This update replaces the temporary Item 63399, which ceased on 31 December 2024.

Why does this matter?
Cardiac MRI is a highly accurate, non-invasive tool for assessing myocardial structure and function. The introduction of Item 63390 ensures:

- Patients gain ongoing access to gold-standard imaging for diagnosing  myocarditis.
- Unnecessary invasive procedures, such as endomyocardial biopsies, can be avoided.
- Clear guidelines support timely, appropriate care for patients presenting with complex cardiac symptoms.

What this means for referrers:
- Only specialists and consultant physicians can request this service where clinically appropriate.
- Referrals must specify the clinical indication, meeting the requirements outlined in the new descriptor. 

At San Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, we’re proud to offer advanced cardiac MRI on fully Medicare-eligible machines, performed by accredited radiologists such as Dr Michael Chan and cardiologist Dr Ashleigh Dind.

For more details or to discuss referrals, reach out to our team MRI@sah.org.au. 

Together, we’re improving access to life-saving diagnostic tools.