In the lead-up to the national registration, what is the current situation for IMs?

[Schmickers]

Okay, so after some research today, I can answer my own question. I don't like the answer very much, though.

The government has arranged for Medical Insurance Group Australia to offer public indemnity insurance to independent midwives, so they will be covered for antenatal and postnatal care and hospital birth (bot not homebirth) as long as they comply with a fairl proscriptive set of conditions. And the minimum cost of this policy is $5000 a year.

Because MIGA don't cover homebirth, homebirths have been exempt from the requirements for two years, but must still be insured for antenatal and postnatal care.

DW got three clients last year. Once costs are factored in, there is no way she could afford to hold a 5K insurance policy for three clients a year. She'd be operating at a loss. The insurance should have been on a per-client basis. This scheme is stupid.

Looks like we won't be taking on any more clients.

[*Infinity*]

This scheme is stupid.

The whole situation is just farcical.

For anyone interested the Maternity Coalition have posted a really good summary on their website about where things currently stand. Its probably the best summary I've seen so far that spells out the detail of what this will / might mean for IMs and women who want to birth at home. Its been hard to put it all together because of the drip-feed of information from the Feds, the insurance companies etc. Which is not accidental either.

[Tegam]

Looks like we won't be taking on any more clients.

Sad for everyone involved!

[r8chele]

Okay, so after some research today, I can answer my own question. I don't like the answer very much, though.

The government has arranged for Medical Insurance Group Australia to offer public indemnity insurance to independent midwives, so they will be covered for antenatal and postnatal care and hospital birth (bot not homebirth) as long as they comply with a fairl proscriptive set of conditions. And the minimum cost of this policy is $5000 a year.

Because MIGA don't cover homebirth, homebirths have been exempt from the requirements for two years, but must still be insured for antenatal and postnatal care.

DW got three clients last year. Once costs are factored in, there is no way she could afford to hold a 5K insurance policy for three clients a year. She'd be operating at a loss. The insurance should have been on a per-client basis. This scheme is stupid.

Looks like we won't be taking on any more clients.

There is another insurance possibility available. Vero via Mediprotect covers homebirth midwives for antenatal and postnatal care (no cover is needed for intrapartum care) and the cost is $1800 per annum. There is a $400 discount if the midiwfe is a member of the ACM.

[Tegam]

just means the price is going to have to go up...then how many of us will be able to have the HB we want!