Not quite. They can get Medicare numbers if they are 'eligible'. Only a handful of midwives have been deemed eligible. No MW after July 2012 may practice hb without both a collaborative agreement and insurance. At the moment they can still practice without either.

None of the mw's near me have collaborative agreements although some have loose arrangements with drs. We do have a local MW who is eligible and can claim for pre and post like Jen is talking about but when/if you go to hospital she is treated like a doula and her ability to care for you restricted.

For me personally, I am lucky to be blessed to afford our MW without the rebate. I feel for mums who are stuck making choices based on finances and unable to get the best care of just a simple ordinary MW at home with them.

My reasons for not wanting a MW with an agreement is because I want an autonomous practitioner not a puppet for a dr or an insurance company. Does that make sense?