New Government regulations put homebirths at risk
Advocacy group “Homebirth Australia” have slammed the suggestion that women who oppose reforms to midwifery practices are holding back access to quality care in childbirth. Under changes announced by Health Minister Nicola Roxon in the federal Budget, independent midwives attending hospital births will have their fees covered by Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. The government will also require professional indemnity insurance for these practitioners, and will provide the insurance for them. But private midwives operating outside the clinical setting will not be able to access the insurance. This means that registered midwives will not be legally allowed to attend a home birth, making it more difficult for women to give birth at home.