Medicare
From 1 November 2010, eligible midwives in Australia are able to access both the MBS and PBS.
For the first time:
- you can claim rebates for specific services provided by an eligible privately practising midwife – antenatal and postnatal services (up to six weeks following the birth), and during birth in a hospital setting, including a birth centre; and
- you will be able to access subsidised medicines as authorised midwives will be able to prescribe certain medicines that are listed on the PBS.
Services covered
Under the new arrangements, services covered by Medicare are:
- antenatal services;
- delivery in a hospital setting – including a birth centre; and
- postnatal services.
Accessing the MBS and PBS
To access the MBS, your midwife must be privately practising – i.e. a midwife working in private practice, the same as your GP or obstetrician. To access the PBS, your midwife must be privately practising and meet additional eligibility requirements.
For your protection
So that you can be fully confident in the care you receive, midwives must be appropriately trained, qualified and registered.
Eligible midwives will have a Medicare provider number and/or a PBS prescriber number. This enables you to claim your care under Medicare and receive subsidised medicines, if prescribed to you.
Midwives will have professional indemnity insurance, and the Australian Government is supporting an insurance product as part of this package. This insurance does not cover the planned delivery of babies in the home.
Working with your care team
You can be assured that additional professional assistance is on hand to support your midwife, if required.
In order for you to claim your maternity care under Medicare, midwives must be working in what’s termed a ‘collaborative arrangement’ with a medical practitioner qualified to provide obstetric care – either an obstetrician or a GP obstetrician. This enables you to have access to an obstetrician or a medical practitioner who provides obstetric services, if you need one.
Collaborative arrangements further support you to receive continuity of care that is safe for you and your family.
This can be achieved through receiving a referral. The referral will need to be from a GP Obstetrician, Specialist obstetrician or a GP who provides pregnancy care (GP Shared Care).
I can help you achieve this through collaborative channels I have established, please contact for further information.
