All MRT examinations used to require authorisation from a chief of medicine. The health insurance funds have recently made the requirement for authorisation from a chief of medicine less strict or even abolished it, which makes access to these examinations considerably easier. However, there are still large differences between the Austrian provinces and compulsory insurance funds. A rough overview is provided here:
IN VIENNA AND LOWER AUSTRIA
For those insured by the provincial health insurance fund (GKK), the health insurance fund for farmers (SVB), a company health insurance fund (BKK) or other non-Austrian EU insurance funds, no MRT examinations require authorisation if the referral was made by a doctor who has a contract with a health insurance fund. If the referral was made by a doctor who does not have a contract with a health insurance fund, the examinations require authorisation from a chief of medicine as previously. For those insured by the insurance fund for public service employees (BVA), the health insurance fund for employees of the City of Vienna (KFA) or the health insurance fund for the self-employed (SVG), all MRT examinations require authorisation from a chief of medicine without exception.
IN BURGENLAND
Those insured by the Burgenland health insurance fund do not require authorisation from a chief of medicine for MRT examinations if the referral was made by a specialist or a specialist outpatient department of a hospital.
IN STYRIA
No MRT examinations require authorisation for those insured by the Styrian health insurance fund, the BVA or the insurance fund for railways and mining (VAEB) if the referral was made by a specialist or on a specialist’s recommendation (e.g. by a hospital). The only exception is a cardiac MRT. For those insured by the SVG, the SVB or the KFA, all MRT examinations require authorisation without exception.
This rough overview is intended to serve as a guide, and if you have any further questions, our staff are available at any time.