The body representing private radiology providers, the Australian Diagnostic Imaging Association, has come out swinging against cuts announced by Health Minister Sussan Ley last year.

Ms Ley explained in December that the bulk-billing incentive, introduced by Labor in 2009-10, had failed to see bulk-billing rates increase beyond natural growth and argued the industry was competitive enough to absorb the cost.

But Australian Diagnostic Imaging Association president Christian Wriedt said private businesses, which provide about half of Tasmania’s diagnostic imaging services, would have no choice but to start charging consumers.

The radiologist said the industry would have to drop bulk-billing when the incentive was removed in July as its Medicare rebates had been frozen since 1998 and businesses could no longer afford to pick up the bill.

Dr Wriedt said this meant many Tasmanian families would be priced out of the private sector and forced to turn to the hospital’s emergency departments for care.

The cheapest service, an X-ray, would cost about $50 privately, while an MRI scan could carry a $700 price tag.

‘‘If you had any business and take out any revenue stream of 10 per cent it would be significant to that business,’’ Dr Wriedt said.

‘‘If these patients go to an emergency department, that emergency department is there to deal with complex trauma cases, and patients coming in with abdominal pain or fractures are distracting from those.

‘‘The public system is already at their capacity.’’

Presentations to Tasmania’s emergency departments have been steadily increasing for several years.

Questions sent to Health Minister Sussan Ley’s media adviser on Wednesday were not answered, but she has previously described similar comments by radiology and pathology providers as alarmist.

The changes will take effect from July 1. Bulk-billing rebates paid directly to patients will continue.