Thousands of patients will now have access to new Medicare subsidies to treat epilepsy, stroke, lymphoma, heart diseases and other life-threatening conditions.

From November 1, women with a family history of breast and ovarian cancer will also have free access to Medicare rebates for BRCA1 and BRCA 2 genetic testing. Close relatives of women found to have the mutations will also be eligible for the tests which have previously cost between $600 and $2000.

Health Minister Greg Hunt is set to announce new Medicare subsidies. Credit:AAP

The federal government approved all the latest recommendations from independent expert on the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC), Health Minister Greg Hunt will announce on Wednesday.

Among the new Medicare items are subsidies for more than 2000 patients with slow growing non-Hodgkin lymphoma to access PET (positron emission tomography) imaging to monitor the progress of their using nuclear medicine diagnostic services.