Publication: ABC News
Section: My Topics
Date: 17 December 2010
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By Anna Hipsley
It is almost a year since the Federal Government set limits on the amount women can claim for private prenatal care.
Obstetricians say the changes have pushed 25,000 women into giving birth at public hospitals and that is putting an extra burden on an already overloaded system.
The professional association representing obstetricians and gynaecologists claims 80 per cent of women who are pregnant or trying to have a baby are now struggling to afford specialist care.
In January the Government capped the amount women could claim for private obstetrics and IVF at between $400 and $500.
Dr Andrew Foote, an executive member of the National Association of Specialist Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (NASOG), says the changes have left women seeking specialist care thousands of dollars out of pocket.
"Certainly for a number of young families, finances are a big issue, going from two incomes to one income for a while, and so it is a price-sensitive issue for some people," he said.
"The average out-of-pocket [expense] is about $2,000 and the rebate used to be 80 per cent and it has now plummeted."
He says the costs have forced many people into the public system.
"It is early days yet but the trends so far indicate about a 10 per cent drift from private to public, which if you look at the numbers Australia-wide, it is an extra 25,000 births per year that are going to arrive in the public system," he said.
Dr Foote says while the public hospital system is very good, it does not have infinite capacity.
"The concern is there will have to be caps put on other things which they can control. So you can't control someone in labour, but you can control someone having an elective hip operation," he said.
Tamara Fuller, a first-time mum from Adelaide, went through numerous cycles of IVF before she and her husband were successful with their current pregnancy.
The Fullers have opted to go to a private obstetrician because of difficulties conceiving.
"I've had three miscarriages now and I just felt that I needed the continuity of care of an obstetrician who knew my history," she said.
"Going private has certainly been difficult... sort of financially because you've got the outlay of the $1,850 pregnancy management payments.
"But then every time I go to the obstetrician, and it is about 10 visits throughout your whole pregnancy, it is basically $65 out of pocket."
NASOG is urging the Government to reassess the rebate.
"We agree with government that the former system was unsustainable... but we don't agree with the absolute slashing to about the 10th percentile of what charges were," Dr Foote said.
"We would like to have some consultation and engagement with government."
But the Health Minister says the changes to the rebate amount for obstetrics have been designed to support the long-term sustainability of the extended Medicare safety net.
In a statement to The World Today, Nicola Roxon says patients will only pay out-of-pocket obstetrics costs if their doctors are charging excessive fees.
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