Assistant Minister for Women, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health
Women in New South Wales are set to benefit from cheaper medicines and better health care thanks to the next stage of the Albanese Government's landmark $792.9 million Women's Health Package.
From 1 November 2025, further changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) will give women more contraceptive choice by making it cheaper and easier to access IUDs and contraceptive implants.
MBS rebates for IUD and contraceptive implants procedures will significantly increase, better reflecting the time and skill required helping to reduce out of pocket costs for women.
For example, the rebates for and IUD insertions will increase from $93.55 to $215.95 and implant insertion will increase from $41.50 to $100.40. These changes to MBS will remove cost and access barriers so more women - including those in regional and rural areas - can choose the contraceptive option that works best for them.
In addition, three new MBS items will support nurse practitioners to deliver services, and a 40 per cent bulk-billing incentive will be introduced, incentivising health professionals to provide long-acting contraception services, saving around 300,000 women a year up to $400 in out-of-pocket costs.
The Albanese Government is also funding free training for health practitioners in the insertion and removal of IUDs and implants through the national AusLARC program.
The program will boost the number of qualified practitioners and improve access to services. Scholarships are available to help all Australian participants with travel and accommodation costs.
These changes build on the Women's Health Package that is already delivering results for New South Wales. Between March and September this year, over 150,000 women in New South Wales filled more than 360,000 prescriptions for newly listed contraceptives, hormone therapies, and endometriosis medicines - saving more than $12.6 million through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister White:
"The Albanese Government's Women's Health Package is delivering more choice, lower costs and better health care for women.
"We understand women shouldn't have to jump through hoops or face large out-of-pocket costs to get the care they need.
"That's why, from 1 November, we're making IUDs and implants more affordable, we're supporting more doctors and nurse practitioners to deliver women's health services, and we're giving women genuine choice about what works for them.
"Cost and access have too often determined a women's contraception options. The changes we're delivering will help ensure women's health care decisions are made in consultation with a health professional, not their bank balance."
Quotes attributable to Jerome Laxale:
"Too many women in NSW still face barriers when it comes to managing their own health, from the cost of contraception to the time it takes to find a qualified practitioner. This next stage of the Women's Health Package is addressing that.
"For women across Sydney and regional NSW, this is about fairness. It's about making sure that every woman can make informed decisions about her health without financial pressure standing in the way.
"This is Labor delivering practical change; removing cost barriers, supporting more practitioners to deliver care, and giving women the respect and autonomy they deserve."
