IVF Medicare changes `heartless`

The federal opposition has branded as heartless legislation allowing Medicare safety
net payments for IVF treatment to be capped, but it won't block its passage through
parliament.
The government maintains its bill capping payments for some Medicare Safety Net
items - including IVF and obstetric services - will not raise the cost of
infertility treatment for most people.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon says the purpose of the changes is to stop a small
amount of specialists charging ridiculous fees.
An emotional Scott Morrison recounted the "horrendous ordeal" his wife endured over
years of trying to have a baby.
The Liberal MP's wife, Jenny, started what was to become 10 IVF cycles in 1993.
"Thanks be to God, we had the situation where, after surgery and some years later,
things happened," he told parliament on Monday.
"But that it is not a normal story. That is actually quite a miraculous story."
"That is why we refer to our little girl Abbey Rose (born 2007) as our miracle child.
"It doesn't always work out like that. In fact, it rarely does.
"So I ask the government to be kind enough to listen."
Mr Morrison said the cruel and heartless legislation would add between $1,500 and
$2,000 to the bill for each IVF cycle.
For many Australians, that would mean the end of the road in their dream to have
children, he said.
Ms Roxon said some specialists continue to raise their fees, knowing taxpayers are
called upon to cover 80 per cent of the cost of the increases.
Between 2003 and 2008, fees charged by obstetricians for out-of-hospital services
soared by 267 per cent.
"The current nature of the safety net means doctors feel little pressure to moderate
their fees," Ms Roxon said.
"The cost of IVF should not increase for most patients."
On average, patients are charged about $6,000 per IVF cycle, yet there are some
doctors charging in excess of $10,000 per cycle, Ms Roxon said.
"Patients who see specialists who charge $6,000 or less for a typical IVF cycle will
not be worse off under these changes," she said.
A spokesman for Peter Dutton told AAP the opposition will not vote against the
legislation in the Senate.
The opposition health spokesman savaged the bill in parliament, saying thousands of
Australians would feel betrayed by the government.
"It is a policy driven by Treasury, not health," he said.
Mr Dutton said it was also a broken promise.
When in opposition, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard opposed any cuts to benefits
for IVF.
"What a cruel hoax," Mr Dutton said.
He said the government had gone into terrible debt and the opposition was willing to
work with it to find savings elsewhere.
The Health Insurance Amendment (Extended Medicare Safety Net) Bill 2009 passed the
lower house unopposed and will now proceed to the Senate.