Do I need a referral for an ultrasound in Australia?
Short answer: Yes — you need a request from a GP or specialist for the scan to be bulk billed or attract a Medicare rebate.
In Australia you generally need a request — a referral — from a GP or specialist before you have an ultrasound, and that valid request is what lets the scan be bulk billed or attract a Medicare rebate where you're eligible.
Radiology clinics can't bill Medicare for a scan without a valid request, so turning up without one usually means paying the full private fee, or being turned away.
Get your ultrasound request online
A telehealth GP reviews your symptoms and, where clinically appropriate, issues the imaging request electronically so you can book at any radiology clinic.
Need this referral? Get it online.
Request online, have a short telehealth consult with an AHPRA-registered GP, and get your referral where clinically appropriate — Australia-wide, bulk billing available.
Get a Referral →General information only, current for Australia and not a substitute for personal medical advice. Medicare rules and eligibility can change — your GP will confirm what applies to you.