06 March 2020
David Lawson
[FYI request #12255 email]
Dear David
Your Official Information Act request, reference: GOV-003821
Thank you for your email of 17 February 2020, asking for the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
I welcome your provision of the following official information that was relevant for the period 1
January 2012 through to the 1 February 2020 and supply copies of all updated iterations that
have happened in the interim;
Official Information Request 1
Please provide me with a copy of the agreed contract for services between ACC and New Zealand
Radiology Group Limited T/A Mercy Radiology (Mercy Radiology) that details the full agreed
charges that Mercy Radiology was permitted to charge/invoice the Corporation for all the types
of imaging (X-ray, C/T scan, MRI, PET etc) and for any additional diagnostic treatments such as
the administration of gadolinium for the purposes of MRI imaging, biopsies and the
administration of steroid injections and the like. that they image/scan for ACC on behalf of ACC's
clients.
Official Information Request 2
Please ensure that from the information provided I will be able to establish the cost of a MRI for
the Lumbar Spine without the contrast gadolinium to ACC from Mercy Radiology, and also from
the schedule the cost of a MRI for the Lumbar Spine with the contrast gadolinium having been
used in the imaging procedure.
Please ensure that the schedule of agreed cost for the use of Gadolinium contrast during an MRI
Lumbar spine MRI imaging procedure between ACC and Mercy Radioogy between the requested
periods is also shown as a unit cost inclusive and exclusive of GST.
Official Information Request 3
I respectfully request the provision of the same official information as requested in my OIA
requests 1 and 2 above, however in place of the ACC /Mercy Radiology agreed schedule of costs,
please provide me with the agreed schedule of costs between ACC and Auckland Radiology
Group (ARG) and all iterations between the same period.
Request 1
Mercy Radiology holds the High Tech Imaging Services contract with ACC. Attached are copies of the
service items and prices for the contract from 1 July 2011 to 31 July 2021. All providers receive the same
rates via this contract.
Copies of the full contracts have not been provided as this information is publicly available on ACC’s
website via this link:
https://www.acc.co.nz/resources/#/subcategory/6. The ‘Table of Contents’ for all
previous contracts have the same wording. This decision is made under section 18(d) of the Act.
GOV-003821
Request 2
All contrasts used, including Gadolinium, are included in the price of the imaging.
There is no unit cost for contrasts. All contrasts are included in the bundle price of each MRI scan,
regardless of the contrast type used. As such, we are refusing to provide you with the unit cost of
Gadolinium under section 18(g), as the information is not held by ACC.
Request 3
Auckland Radiology Group also holds the High Tech Imaging Services contract with ACC. The schedule of
costs is the same as outlined above.
Any queries
If you have any questions, you can email me at
[email address]. If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a complaint to the Ombudsman.
Information about how to do this is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800
802 602.
Yours sincerely
Sasha Wood
Acting Manager Official Information Act Services
Government Engagement & Support
Accident Compensation Corporation
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