These are not simply incremental improvements that we’ve seen from time to time. These are significant.
Tomorrow, 1 March, changes to midwifery MBS items, announced in last year’s budget, come in to effect. Here’s why that is so important.
These are not simply incremental improvements that we’ve seen from time to time. These are significant.
This $56.5 million budget investment signals real recognition for the midwifery profession, for women’s choice of care and the high-quality maternity care midwives provide.
So what are the changes?
In a nutshell, the Albanese government is investing in primary maternity care by funding three new MBS items and changes to existing items both in time and value, thus giving women the time they need, and enabling endorsed midwives to provide even better care for women.
- Longer appointments: Women will now be able to claim for some extended consultation time tiering, allowing for more thorough and personalised care.
- Extended antenatal consultations: A new MBS item allows for antenatal visits of up to 90 minutes, supporting comprehensive antenatal care.
- Enhanced postnatal appointments: A newly funded postnatal visit will include perinatal mental health and domestic violence screenings, as well as a birth debrief—a crucial step toward addressing birth trauma.
- Complex antenatal care appointments: Up to three extended sessions (each lasting up to three hours) will be available for women requiring complex care that leads to hospital admission.
- Longer postnatal care period: Midwives can now provide funded care for up to eight weeks post-birth, an increase from the previous six weeks. This change acknowledges the vital role midwives play in the early postpartum period.
Related
While the number of women accessing private maternity care with endorsed midwives is still relatively small, it is a rapidly growing sector. The number of endorsed midwives in Australia has doubled in the past four years, driven by increased demand, including from the government’s $53 million investment in primary care scholarships, giving midwives the opportunity to gain endorsement qualification at no cost.
These MBS items are a significant step towards women’s access to the maternity care of their choice, whether this be at home or in a hospital setting. It is certainly a win for women’s health.
Alison Weatherstone is chief midwife of the Australian College of Midwives.