Hello oz midders,
If you don't mind I'd like to put my two cents worth in on your insurance
crisis...
We have just experienced this exact phenomena in Canada. Our insurer
gave short notice that insurance premiums would increase from $4,000 per
year (in line with what GP's pay) to >$17,000 (getting closer to what OB's
pay). Of course this puts insurance coverage out of the reach of midwives.
Every province has worked out a different solution, albeit somewhat
temporary. So we are still in a tenuous situation.
As I understand it it is not that insurance companies anticipate that
midwives will be sued more often, it is just that the payout if it does
occur is likely to be extremely large so that a damaged child can be
supported for a lifetime. In our case, the problem is that, in the grand
scheme of things, there are not many of us. In addition we also have not
been around very long. That means that there is not a large pool of money
to draw from if there is a claim to be paid out. It has to do with the
"spread of risk."
I think it is important to recognize this insurance reality when entering
into discussion. It is not just midwives who are under the gun here, it is
anyone who helps with birthing. You guys are doing a great job of
rallying, getting the word out to the press, and to your politicians. It
might be important to remind them that ALL birth care givers need to be
supported in the work they do, rather than focussing on the "midwifery is
better, so how can this happen?" angle. We all know that, and so do lots
of others but it throws something into the debate that will always be a
flashpoint.
Some of the solutions reached in Canada are....B.C. : The government
insurance fund has insured midwives as well as many other workers and
hospitals. The government has deep pockets and the level of risk is spread.
In Alberta the gov't has agreed to pay $11,000 of the $17,000 for this year
only. Who knows what will happen next year.
In Manitoba we are covered under our Regional Health Authority's insurance
for employees. This is not without its problems.
As far as I know Ontario, who has the highest number of midwives, has not
found a solution yet. (As an aside...Does anyone know if Holliday Tyson
(from Ontario) is still in Australia? I am trying to contact her.)
I am not sure what has happened in Quebec. They have been employees of
Community Health Ccntres and as such covered under the CLC insurance. They
have been negotiating to become independent practitioners, but maybe this
will cange. I don't know.
I'm wondering, seeing that this seems to be happening in different places
around the world, if a possible solution is to have an insurance company
that looks after the needs of birth providers on a more global scale i.e.
around the world? It could even be a non-profit insurance company (one
can dream..)
Having said that the NZ system sounds like a dream to me. To have a
system that is geared to supporting those that need it rather than trying
to blame some one sounds so civilized.
I
Good luck to you all. I am watching with great interest.
Meaghan Moon
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