MARK BUTLER MP
MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE

GED KEARNEY MP
ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE

LOUISE MILLER-FROST MP
MEMBER FOR BOOTHBY

The Albanese Government has listened to Australian women suffering endometriosis and complex gynaecological conditions like chronic pelvic pain and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
 
For the first time women will have access to longer specialist consultations, of 45 minutes or more, covered under Medicare.
 
From 1 July 2025, two new items will be added to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) enabling extended consultation times and increased rebates for specialist gynaecological care.
 
These items will ensure women receive timely and appropriate assessments and are no longer left waiting for critical diagnoses and treatments.
 
This $49.1 million investment from the Albanese Government will provide approximately 430,000 more services to help women across the country with complex gynaecological conditions to receive consultations of 45 minutes or longer.
 
These two new MBS items will provide a higher fee for longer initial gynaecologist consultation ($168.60 for a minimum of 45 minutes, compared to the standard rate of $95.60), and a higher fee for longer subsequent consultations ($84.35 for a minimum of 45 minutes, compared to the standard rate of $48.05).
 
Endometriosis is estimated to affect at least 1 in 9 Australian women. It has an extensive, devastating impact on daily life, and an unacceptable average of seven years before diagnosis.
 
The Albanese Government has now invested over $107 million to support women with endometriosis, creating a national suite of one-stop-shops for endometriosis care, intervention and treatment, including:
 

1. 22 specialised Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics around the country. These Clinics operating now and provide multidisciplinary care, access to early intervention and a range of treatment options in a one-stop shop for women;
2. Developing an Endometriosis Management Plan for individualised and tailored treatment for women;
3. Support for endometriosis research;
4. Investing in grants to improve awareness of endometriosis in the community;
5. Developing Endometriosis Living Guidelines so that healthcare professionals can be led by best practice evidence based information
6. Reviewing the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) items used to support the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis.
7. In addition to the specialised Endometriosis package, our Government introduced a new extended 60 minute MBS item for GPs. This longer consult gives GPs more time to better help women endometriosis or other chronic conditions with complex histories and symptoms.

As at 10 May 2024.