Maternity Services Reform
Maternity services reforms: what they mean for pregnant women
Welcome to the maternity services information page – providing information to pregnant women, women planning a pregnancy, and people wanting more information about maternity services in Australia. Here you will find further information on the Australian Government’s reforms to maternity services and what they will mean for you.
In the 2009-10 Federal Budget, the Australian Government announced the Improving Maternity Services Budget Package, providing $120.5 million over four years. Pregnant women, those planning pregnancy, and their families will have greater access to maternity services and have more choice in the care received during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.
The individual initiatives in the Budget package that may be of interest to you include:
- Changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), allowing eligible, privately practising midwives to provide certain Medicare-rebateable services and to prescribe PBS-listed medicines;
- An expansion of the 24 hour a day, seven day a week telephone support service - the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline (1800 882 436) and website (www.healthdirect.org.au/pbb); and
- More services in rural and remote communities through expanding the Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program (MSOAP).
MBS and PBS benefits provided by eligible midwives
From 1 November 2010, you can claim a Medicare rebate for specific services provided by an eligible privately practising midwife. These services include:- antenatal services;
- delivery in a hospital setting – including a birth centre; and
- postnatal services, up to six weeks post delivery.
For you to claim the Medicare benefit, your midwife must be in private practice, the same as your GP or an obstetrician, and must have a Medicare provider number. This provider number is an assurance that your midwife has met the required eligibility criteria.
Midwives will also be working in collaboration with obstetric specialists (obstetricians or GP obstetricians) in providing your care, and will refer you to an obstetrician at around 34 weeks for an assessment to ensure there are no potential or evident complications.
More information on collaborative arrangements can be found on the "Support for pregnant women and new mothers" fact sheet and Q&A.
Useful information
Support servicesPregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline website: 1800 882 436
Healthy pregnancy advice
Information on breastfeeding initiatives and support for mothers
Healthy eating and physical activity during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Healthy bladder and bowel advice for women
Advice on adjusting to parenthood
For more information on:
MBS changes for midwives, visit Medical Benefits
PBS changes for midwives, visit Pharmaceutical Benefits
