Fairfax Media has revealed the Federal Government’s Chief Medical Officer is investigating stroke charity Strokecheck, after it reported concerns the organisation is targeting people – including retirement village residents – without any symptoms and charging Medicare for unnecessary tests.
Strokecheck has been partnering with 300 of Amcal’s pharmacies as well as universities, gyms and retirement villages to host consultations with patients about their risk of stroke, and depending on this, have an ultrasound. They do a three point ultrasound check – your neck, abdomen and ankle.
But Professor Brendan Murphy said the Department of Health doesn’t support ultrasound screening of patients without obvious symptoms.
In one case, an 84-year-old resident at a village in Frankston South was left distressed after a Strokecheck consultation and ultrasound. She was told by her specialist the ultrasound was unnecessary as she was already being monitored.
Strokecheck is not a registered diagnostic imaging provider, so it can’t bill Medicare for tests.
