The existing rebate for pre-IVF fertility testing, which had allowed patients to claim up to $ 500 in out-of-pocket expenses incurred during antimullerian hormone (AMH) testing, pelvic ultrasound, ovulation testing, and semen, will be halved to $ 250. after too few claims were made for the higher amount.
About one in 20 births in Australia involves some form of assisted reproduction technology, according to data from UNSW’s National Unit for Epidemiology and Perinatal Statistics published last year.
In 2019, there were 15.6 IVF cycles per 1,000 Australian women under the age of 45, 6% more than in 2018.
Of the cycles initiated, 23.2% (20,668) resulted in a clinical pregnancy and 18.3% (16,310) resulted in a live birth.
The average age of women undergoing autologous cycles, using their own embryos, in 2019 was 35.8 years. The mean age of women using donor oocytes or embryos was 40.2 years.
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Professor Luk Rombauts, president of the Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand, who was asked about the new discount, said several factors, including the use of donation services, affected the cost of IVF.
An average initial cycle in a private clinic can cost up to $ 10,000.
With the new discount and private health insurance, Rombauts said that for some patients the cost “can be reduced to virtually nothing”, noting that society had pushed for the discount to include a fertility treatment other than IVF. .
“Otherwise, effectively provide an incentive to do IVF when someone doesn’t need it,” he said.
Rombauts said the company would be willing to work with other state governments to establish similar schemes if NSW works well. He said the growing number of children born after fertility treatment indicates the need for governments to improve equity of access.
“Not only is this a proper social thing, there is also a strong economic argument,” he said.
The NSW state budget will be delivered on June 21st.
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