I found this online (so it may or may not be correct, but it does sound like what I was told):
What the Medicare changes mean
From November 1 2010, midwives and nurse practitioners are able to receive payment for providing services outside the public health system. These nurses and midwives are also able to prescribe a range of medicines that fall under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Midwives in private practice will need to be registered and hold a Medicare provider number and a PBS prescriber number.
Which midwives are eligible for Medicare rebates?
To be eligible for rebates, midwives need to be registered either under the National Registration Accreditation Scheme or with a state or territory board. Under the new scheme, specific private midwives who qualify will be able to provide ante-natal care, delivery and post-birth services under Medicare. This means if you find a participating midwife you can experience continuity of pregnancy care under a midwife of your choice.
Pretty sure no collaborative arrangement is required. Only one of the mws I know in Sydney does have a collaborative arrangement/practicing rights at a hospital, but I've heard even this is a moving feast and atm it's based on hospital staffing levels as well.
You don't need anybody to sign off anything for you to homebirth - you just have to stay home until your baby is born
The others have covered off on the medicare side of things, but i have heard that some midwives have raised their fees along with their medicare eligibility and so the final costs may be similar between two midwives even if one is medicare eligible and the other is not. I know costs can be worrisome, i did all sorts of things in order to raise the money to pay my midwife, but how you connect with the midwife is seriously the most important thing.
Another mate had a baby, another forceps job, it is just crazy how broken our bodies are when we go to hospital.
Homebirth General Discussion #12
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