health Mackay, Australia
Insurance changes threaten access to Australian homebirth midwives
5,000hours
Endorsement requires 5,000 hours of clinical practice and additional study.
An exemption allowing privately practising midwives to attend homebirths without professional indemnity insurance will end on December 31, 2026. From January 1, 2027, midwives working outside hospitals will need approved insurance, which midwives say could worsen shortages.
1 sourceabc.net.auUpdated
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The exemption allowing privately practising midwives to attend homebirths without insurance will end on December 31, 2026.
“An exemption that has allowed privately practising midwives to attend homebirths without insurance covering claims of error or negligence will end on New Year's Eve.”
Midwives working outside a hospital will need a Commonwealth-funded insurance product from Medical Insurance Group Australia.
“All midwives outside of a hospital setting will need a Commonwealth-funded product from the Medical Insurance Group Australia (MIGA).”
The insurance product is available only to endorsed midwives.
“The insurance is available only to "endorsed" midwives”