SENATOR KATY GALLAGHER
MINISTER FOR FINANCE
MINISTER FOR WOMEN
MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE
MINISTER FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES
 
MARK BUTLER MP
MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGEING
MINISTER FOR DISABILITY AND THE NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME
 
REBECCA WHITE MP
ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE
ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS HEALTH
ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR WOMEN

The Albanese Government is delivering better Medicare services for Australian women and girls to support them during pivotal life stages.
 
From the 1st of July, four new Medicare items will support longer consultation times and higher rebates for specialised gynaecological care.
 
The government has invested more than $49 million to provide around 430,000 more services to help women across the country with complex gynaecological conditions including endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and chronic pelvic pain.
 
This will give women and girls access to timely and appropriate assessments, ensuring they aren’t waiting for critical diagnoses and treatments.
 
The new items are for initial and follow-up consultations which last a minimum of 45 minutes, either in person or via video.
 
Also from the 1st of July, new menopause and perimenopause health assessments are available under Medicare.
 
These new items will support women experiencing the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause to get the holistic care they need from their family GP.
 
One in five Australian women will have menopausal symptoms severe enough to interfere with their daily life.
 
The government is providing $26 million to deliver the new health assessments and ensure women receive the best care at the right time for their individual circumstances.
 
Women should talk to their healthcare provider about their eligibility for these new Medicare items, which are available from 1 July 2025.

This is all part of our $573.3 million to deliver more choice, lower costs and better health care for women.
 
The Albanese Government’s women’s health package has already started to improve access and affordability with the first PBS listing for new oral contraceptive pills in more than 30 years and the first PBS listings for new menopausal hormone therapies in over 20 years earlier this year.
 
More endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics will be opened, expanding from 22 to 33 clinics, providing specialist support for more conditions including menopause.
 
On November 1, there will be larger Medicare payments and more bulk billing for IUDs and birth control implants saving around 300,000 women a year up to $400 in out-of-pocket costs.