IVF mums to fork out after cutbacks

By Sue Dunlevy

They will have to find $3000 out of their own pocket to have IVF after Federal Government subsidies for the procedure were cut back.

And they will need to find a further $800 to have a private obstetrician because the Government wants to cut the Medicare subsidies.

The cutbacks will also be a massive blow to the one in 10 women who have the condition endometriosis.

Katie Riggs, 29, who lives in western Sydney, said she has been trying for three years to have a child naturally and now needed IVF to conceive.

Because of her endometriosis, she needs a private obstetrician to manage the pregnancy and birth. .

Ms Riggs says she has already been hit financially because of surgery and medical care to treat her condition.

Her letter of complaint to Prime Minster Kevin Rudd was answered by Health Minister Nicola Roxon.

"They sent me a standard list of the changes they were going to make and that they understood my circumstances," she said. "My husband and I have pretty good jobs, we're paying off our own home, we have private health insurance, a very minimal debt, we're hardworking Australians, we pay our taxes.

"We're not talking about people who are wealthy who can afford these treatments, we're just average Australians trying to have a baby."

The Budget cuts are before Parliament this week and the Government faces a tough battle getting the changes through the Senate.

The Government says the Budget cuts, which will save $257.9 million, are necessary because IVF specialists increased their fees by 290 per cent in the five years after the introduction of the Medicare Safety Net which provided extra Medicare subsidies.

Ms Roxon says women who use IVF doctors charging less than $6000 will not lose under the changes but many doctors charge up to $10,000 for infertility treatment.

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