Location Specific Practice Number (LSPN) - information for health professionals
NOTE: Before being eligible to provide Medicare funded diagnostic imaging services, your practice must have an LSPN, and must be accredited under the Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation Scheme.
Practice registration is an initiative of the Department of Health and Ageing in consultation with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR), the Australian Diagnostic Imaging Association (ADIA), the Australian and New Zealand Association of Physicians in Nuclear Medicine (ANZAPNM) and Medicare Australia.
Where a practice site provides diagnostic imaging or radiation oncology services, Health Insurance Amendment (Diagnostic Imaging, Radiation Oncology and Other Measures) Act 2003 requires these sites to be registered with Medicare Australia in order for Medicare benefits to be payable. Registered sites and bases for mobile equipment are allocated a Location Specific Practice Number (LSPN). The LSPN is a unique identifier which is required to be submitted as part of each Medicare claim for diagnostic imaging or radiation oncology services.
The LSPN recorded on the claim must be current on the date of service (ie the registration must be active, not suspended or cancelled). In addition, Medicare benefits are only payable where there is equipment recorded for the site appropriate to the item claimed.
To maintain registration, practice sites are required to advise Medicare Australia about any changes to the site’s primary information within 28 days of the change occurring. Every 12 months Medicare Australia will write to practice sites and ask them to update their registration details. If a site fails to comply with this request their registration may be suspended for up to three months. Registration will be cancelled by Medicare Australia after a continuous period of three months suspension.
To apply for practice registration you must complete an LSPN Registration Form (see below). For further information on accreditation under the Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation Scheme please refer to LSPN Accreditation flyer [PDF, 24Kb]
Send your new registration form to:
Medicare Australia
GPO Box 9822
Perth WA 6847
Attn: Accreditation Section
Or fax your completed registration form to Medicare Australia on: (08) 9214 8201.
Completed LSPN declaration and Update details form should be mailed to the relevant state office, at the address below:
VIC
Provider Liaison
GPO 9822
Melbourne VIC 3001
NSW
Provider Liaison
GPO Box 9822
Sydney NSW 2001
QLD
Provider Liaison
GPO Box 9822
Brisbane QLD 4001
NT
Provider Liaison
GPO Box 9822
Darwin NT 0801
SA
Provider Liaison
GPO Box 9822
Adelaide SA 5001
TAS
Provider Liaison
GPO Box 9822
Hobart TAS 7001
WA
Provider Liaison
GPO Box 9822
Perth WA 6848
On receipt of a complete and accurate registration form, Medicare Australia will allocate an LSPN to the practice site and advise the site of their registration number in writing.
From 1 July 2003 the LSPN is required on all diagnostic imaging and radiation oncology patient accounts, receipts or bulk billing claims submitted to Medicare Australia for a Medicare benefit to be paid. Please note that the LSPN used for this purpose should relate to the registered practice site where the diagnostic imaging procedure or radiation oncology service is performed.
To update your equipment, as well as nominating a new authorised representative or amending business details or practice details please download the LSPN declaration and update details form.
Extension of capital sensitivity rule to all diagnostic imaging equipment
From 1 July 2011 all services listed in the Diagnostic Imaging Services Table of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), excluding Positron Emission Tomography (PET) services, will have two different rebates – K items (100% of the MBS Fee) and NK items (50% of the MBS Fee) for diagnostic imaging services provided on aged equipment.
This rule, known as ‘capital sensitivity’, is currently in place for computed tomography (CT) and angiography and will be extended to improve the quality of diagnostic imaging services by encouraging providers to upgrade and replace as appropriate aged equipment.
How will the capital sensitivity measure be implemented?
The measure will be implemented in two phases. This will allow for initial arrangements from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012, which will include further analysis and consultation with health professionals, industry and manufacturers to determine the final arrangements around upgrades and remote area exemptions that will apply from 1 July 2012.
The capital sensitivity rules applying to CT and angiography will not change as part of the initial arrangements.
For further information please go to www.health.gov.au/capitalsensitivity
Search LSPN Register
The LSPN Register lists registered practice sites and mobile facilities. This registration data is updated regularly to assist doctors in identifying registered practices eligible for Medicare benefits.
LSPN forms
- LSPN Registration form [PDF, 194Kb]
- LSPN Amendment form [PDF, 172Kb]
- LSPN Accreditation flyer [PDF, 53Kb]
- LSPN Accreditation flyer [RTF, 44Kb]
Contact us
If you need assistance or require a registration form contact Medicare Australia on 1800 620 589 toll free Monday to Friday, 07.30am to 5.00pm Western Standard Times or email lspn@medicareaustralia.gov.au
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Last updated: 8 June, 2011