tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178250401127416437.post6511721964443673127..comments2021-02-10T15:28:41.887+11:00Comments on Australian Private Midwives Association: Medicare and midwivesmidwyfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03391447631486168918noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178250401127416437.post-54184541985939177472012-01-17T17:57:36.476+11:002012-01-17T17:57:36.476+11:00Good to hear from you Bruce.
As you have mentioned...Good to hear from you Bruce.<br />As you have mentioned the NZ situation, I think one of the main differences between NZ funding and Medicare is that the NZ midwives and GPs are not entitled to charge a fee on top of the standard payment. The same amount is paid for the same service, regardless of whether the service was provided by a midwife or a doctor.<br />Thanks for your comment.Joy Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16475164378153618715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178250401127416437.post-18561134074945008392012-01-17T16:32:33.053+11:002012-01-17T16:32:33.053+11:00Thanks for this posting Joy. I agree with your com...Thanks for this posting Joy. I agree with your commentary that there are real benefits to women in the availability of MBS rebates for midwifery care, but that the fee-for-service model doesn't drive continuity. <br />Some submissions to the Commonwealth's Review of Maternity Services (including Maternity Coalition's) proposed funding episodes of care in order to support continuity. I suspect the Government's decision stick with fee-for-service was an act of reasonable caution. The Commonwealth has however been discussing the possibility of funding episodes of care thru Medicare, which could at some time be used in midwifery. <br />New Zealand funds episodes, with payments for trimesters 1+2, trimester 3, labour and birth, and postnatal. It's worth noting that this only totals approx NZ$2000 per pregnancy, birth and postnatal episode. <br />I think there is likely to be a time when amendment of MBS funding for midwifery should be considered, but that will probably be after bigger problems are solved - such as collaborative arrangements and the eligible midwife/public hospital interface.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com