Some hypothetical questions about homebirth post June.....

[Freya]

So say one was to want a homebirth after June; is it still possible?

Also will it still be covered under PHI? Im guessing no?

[LionsandBears]

It is still possible, either through a public hospital system or with a private midwife who'll agree to it. Many will.

Re: PHI, I don't know what will happen there. I don't think the PHI companies know either. I've still got to write to mine to "apply". As the only reason I'm paying such high PHI is to get the homebirth rebate, I'm not going to be pleased if they knock it back.

[Freya]

So you could find a private midwife to attend your birth but she isnt insured and could get into trouble? How would you go about getting birth recorded and such if technically its "illegal"?

[Cassius2]

yep! so far so good! i am due to have bubs at home in september. what might happen is that your registered midwife may be de-registered. but that doesnt take away her degree or experience! and as long as you know she is a registered midwife it should be all good iykwim. my midwife explained this to me last week, and asked me i was still comfortable with the HB even if she was to have her qualification taken away from her. i was and am AOK. i know her and her organisation and trust them.

as for the PHI i *doubt* it. unless you are running it through a caseload program of a hospital. but i could be way wrong on that one...

[e_p]

I'm pretty sure there has been an amendment made allowing a 2 year exemption from the requirement of IM's to carry insurance...thus continuing the status quo for homebirthers for the next two years?

[Midwife Melissa]

So you could find a private midwife to attend your birth but she isnt insured and could get into trouble? How would you go about getting birth recorded and such if technically its "illegal"?

Homebirth will be legal after July. Midwives will need insurance in order to register, and this will be available for antenatal and postnatal care. There is no insurance for the actual birth, so there's an exemption for that. An exemption framework is in the process of being written so we don't know the details yet, but we have been assured that homebirth will not be illegal, no-one will be fined, deregistered etc. Midwives will be able to provide birth registration forms as we have always done

[Cassius2]

oh thanks for that MM!! i was wondering how it all worked as my midwife has an informal agreement with the womens and i wondered how this would work after june...so that makes me happy! of course, i would rather a resolution rather than an exemption

[Midwife Melissa]

oh thanks for that MM!! i was wondering how it all worked as my midwife has an informal agreement with the womens and i wondered how this would work after june...so that makes me happy! of course, i would rather a resolution rather than an exemption

Well, there's good news there! What they're going to allow (after Nov) is that in the case of a transfer, your IM would be able to remain your midwife (ie, catch the baby / help you catch your baby / help your DP catch your baby) in the hospital in case of a transfer. In other words, women will be able to book with an IM and birth at home or in hospital, either as a planned hospital birth or as a homebirth transfer. Again, the details aren't out yet. Medicare benefits will also be paid for antenatal and postnatal care after Nov and hospital birth will also be funded (but not home birth).