Capping Medicare Saftey Net for IVF/ART #2

[SeaChange]

This thread is discussing the changes that may happen to Medicare as of the 1st of January next year.

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Just a reminder to all: all LTers love seeing a fellow LTer achieve that longed-for BFP, and we all find hope in one of our own having success in this difficult journey. But please remember that there are those who cycled with you who may not have received good news at the end of their cycle. Please do not post baby/child/pg tickers or pg related signatures (eg blinking BFP icons) etc in this forum out of respect for them.

Previous thread is here.

[buliej]

Hi

Anyone follow the discussions today - I completely forgot...and I'm a bit afraid to read bad news.

[SeaChange]

I haven't buliej, however I was going to ask how many people are seriously considering pushing forward with IVF this year rather than waiting until next year - because with this and the changes to NSW donor laws also on the 1st of January we are seriously considering it...

[buliej]

I'm sure many people are considering the increased costs associated with putting off cycling until next year. I think I posted a link to an article that mentioned some doctors will be working through the traditional Xmas closing. I haven't heard this about my clinic, but I would imagine it's in the clinic's interest to do this as well. I am certain that they will see a reduction in patients (and thus revenues) next year - this has to be the case, doesn't it?

I'm going to do as many cycles as possible as quickly as possible - I'm mainly driven by the loudest biological clock - my failed pregnancies have caused so many delays as I recover from the m/c's and d&c's - I feel like I'm losing critical time.

[Taurean78]

Hi there,

I am currently in the 2WW and have 2 embies frozen but would consider doing another fully stimulated cycle in Oct if we aren't successful this time. We would have to have Sept off to let ovaries calm down but we could be pushing it to fit in a FET and stim cycle before end of 2009.
I know it sounds pessimistic but trying to be a realistic in my thinking - besides, safety net resets so higher out of pocket after Dec.

Here is a link to do with things from today's Australian,
Greens vow to oppose IVF changes in the Senate | The Australian

xxTaurean78

[buliej]

Thanks for the link.

[Hollybolly]

Interesting what it says about Nicola Ruxon stating patients paying $6000 or less for treatment won't be effected..... not very specific - wonder if this means per cycle or $6000 for the treatment per calendar year?

Our stim cycles are $6170...... and from what I can gather is fairly average?

Great to see it hasn't been put to bed as a done deal - although I wonder what hope we have after Dec 2009

[Persephone1]

The Coalition looks to rebuck the legislation as well:

Coalition threat to block IVF changes in Senate

[buliej]

There's been a bunch of reports about possible blocking of this - I really hope this doesn't go through in its current form.

Blocking IVF bill irresponsible: Roxon

Blocking IVF bill irresponsible: Roxon

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574...-29277,00.html

http://www.smh.com.au/national/speci...0818-ep3w.html

Hope these links work!

I don't really object to them means testing the medicare rebate even though it would definitely impact us...as I see this as kind of fair - but the ivf cut backs were clearly not thought through and are not a suitable means for addressing the concern re: specialist fees...and it is now being said that these fees may be rising only in line with costs of treatment and not just lining specialists pockets...clearly not enough research was put into this proposal

[~BecD~]

Thansk for the link to the committee report - certainly an interesting read.
I am praying that this does not go through. If it does, it is the end of our IVF treatment.

And that comment by Roxon about $6000 and not being extra out of pocket - complete load of crap if you do the sums.

[juniper76]

I checked the Senate Hansard last night but couldn't see any mention of ART or IVF in it. Will check today's proceedings soon...

[JLeigh29]

Gargy - In response to your earlier post, we've yet to jump on the IVF train, but have been told it's by far our best option of getting that BFP. We weren't going to be rushed into making a decision, but with these proposed changes, I'm pretty sure we'll now try to get at least one cycle in this year, although I am concerned that we may not have fully exhausted all our other options. Idealistic as it sounds, we wanted to give ourselves as much chance to conceive naturally as possible, and were happy we still had a bit of time up our sleeves. Now, there's another clock besides the biological one ticking...

[dreamingofalittleone]

we booked ours for October , Because frankly even if you save just a little , You are still saving and who really knows if the first attempt at ICSI is going to take . Dont get me wrong we were always going to do it , But it meant we decided to start a few months earlier . As Canberra Fertility Centre explained it seems that each procedure will have an item number and a set amount that can be claimed!

When I worked in Health insurance a few years back items numbers had set medicare scheduled fees ( this usually meant that the paitent was left out of pocket.

All though they state that specialists fees are too much and that they beleive that specialists will be forced to charge less ( this does not occur when you pay 65-120 to see a gp and get back 33.00 ) I would have preferred that they didnt have the baby bonus at all ! Or the stupid 900 stimulus that also got issued to dead people and pets , What an abs stuff up that was!!

[redlady]

The Federal Government outlined in the May 2009 Budget implications for IVF funding


The Federal Government in the May 2009 Budget outlined some important changes that will affect funding for IVF treatment. The Government announced that the Medicare Safety Net funding for IVF will change from 1 January 2010. The indication is there will be caps to a number of Medicare Benefits Schedule numbers in relation to assisted reproductive technology (ART) and the funding or rebates for IVF treatment from 1st January 2010.

IVFAustralia and in fact the entire IVF profession and patient support group ACCESS Australia is seeking clarity on the Government?s proposed changes, which could mean a fairly significant increase in the out of pocket costs for patients. The Government has not issued any specific details as yet, we only know that there will be changes from the 1st January 2010.

If you have any questions regarding the costs and how this may affect you or the potential changes to funding for IVF treatment from 2010 please talk with our team. Be reassured that if you are undergoing treatment now or before 1st January 2010 there is no change to your Medicare Safety Net rebate funding.

[marcellus]

It is very encouraging to see the opposition and others likely to block this in the senate.

We're not going back this year as we just can't fit it in - but did consider trying to squeeze a cycle in because of the threatened changes.


IVF Medical Directors said, on its figures, patients' out-of-pocket costs for a typical treatment cycle would rise almost $1700 - from $895 to $2592. (Coalition threat to block IVF changes in Senate)

[dusty]

Thanks Marcellus for sharing that. I have been sticking my head in the sand on this one lately.

I found these quotes interesting

Opposition health spokesman Peter Dutton said the Government had failed to provide costings and final details of regulations - and should produce them before the legislation was voted on.

The Opposition rejects Government claims that it had already provided full details of the measures, pointing to a Government document that states that ''these items will be restructured and the caps will change, however, the overall impact on patients should remain the same''.

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon said the Government was ''pricing people out of becoming parents''.

I don't know what figures they are using to say the impact should remain the same. My new clinic appears to charge $4800 but in fact the hidden cost is $7500 way above the average of $6000 per clinic they are using. There is only one clinic in my town that charges close to that and their success rates etc aren't as good as the two pricier clinics. Ironic!

[airline]

Haven't had time to research but had my scan with FS and sadly no gestation sac, so we discussed next step - he thought we'd try FET but we said we wanted a 3rd stim cycle before the year finishes. He said he'd received an email from one his colleagues with confirmed reports that the senate was not going to pass it. Interestingly he said it'd come from the British press...?? We're still going with stim. cycle, can't risk it financially.

[airline]

Here's a link we found in the Australian today 4th Sep '09.

link here

hope this works!