http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200510/s1487984.htmFriday, October 21, 2005. 6:00pm Gillard calls for Medicare numbers for midwivesLabor's health spokeswoman Julia Gillard says it is time for the federal Government to get on with introducing Medicare provider numbers for midwives, to ensure women are given choices when they give birth. Earlier this year, Health Minister Tony Abbott said he would consider paying midwives Medicare benefits if their patients had been referred by doctors. Ms Gillard has told a state conference of midwives in Sydney today that midwives should also be given access to medical indemnity insurance. "Whilst the Minister for Health, Tony Abbott, has indicated some words of support about getting Medicare provider numbers for midwives, precious little appears to have been done. "Our call would be for the Minister to get on with what he has said he is prepared to do and to be seriously addressing the issue of provider numbers for midwives." |
