Our new position statement on key principles for funding private maternity services emphasises that the level of MBS and private health funding must be sufficient to support safe, high-quality and viable private maternity services.
Government policy settings must provide appropriate incentives and support for patients to access private maternity services led by the doctor of their choice, including private health insurance policy products that include affordable cover for maternity services that is accessible when needed.
The position statement also stresses the inadequacy — and in some cases (like paediatrics) complete absence — of relevant MBS and insurer rebates, which must be immediately addressed. These rebates must then be appropriately indexed each year to the increasing costs of maternity care provision.
