What is the program?
This program helps with the cost of fertility preservation for eligible patients who either:
- have cancer
- are at risk of passing on a genetic condition and have had pre-implantation genetic testing through Medicare.
It provides funding to help with the cost of freezing eggs, sperm and embryos (cryostorage) for up to 10 years.
Why it is important
Patients with these conditions often face extra costs for fertility treatment because of their condition. They may need to store their eggs, sperm or embryos for a long time.
Goals
This program aims to remove out-of-pocket costs for eligible cryostorage services for these patients.
It does not intend to influence current clinical practice. Doctors will decide a patient's options for fertility treatment based on an individual assessment.
How it works
Registered clinics claim and receive funding payments every 6 months on their patient's behalf.
They must not charge their patient any extra fees for services that receive funding under this program.
Find out more about how this program works.
Status
This program starts on 1 July 2023.
The first payment period will be 1 July to 31 December 2023. The payments for this period will occur in early 2024.
Who we work with
We work with Services Australia, who are responsible for administering:
- payments and the payment system
- organisation (clinic) registrations and the registration system.
Contact
