Why is the government penalising women who are injured during pregnancy? Read on to find out what Dr Moncrieff and our patients have done to help!
JANUARY 2021 UPDATE: the government is considering allowing women after babies have access to Medicare assistance again if they can demonstrate at least a 3cm ongoing muscle separation (diastasis) causing pain.
The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons is putting together a submission in support of this but needs your help!
If you can complete a survey on your experience and the difference having Medicare support would make, please complete the form available here and return it to ASPS before 31 May 2021 (also see the guidelines for completion on this page or call us if you need help): Survey on Medicare Support for Abdominoplasty for Mums with Chronic Pain
What some women suffer after kids:
Many women we see need their abdominal wall repaired if it was irreparably damaged during pregnancy.
We are NOT talking about cosmetic ‘mummy makeovers’ (which are great - but will not attract a taxpayer rebate). Instead, this is the reconstruction of abdominal separation that can’t be fixed no matter how much physio or diet they do. And back pain and incontinence becomes a chronic problem for many of these women.
What we have done to help:
In 2016 the Government ended support for these women by removing access to the relevant Medicare item number for abdominoplasty and restricting it only to mass weight loss patients. So Dr Moncrieff and his colleagues from around Australia commenced research to show just how helpful abdominoplasty can be at reducing the chronic health issues facing women after babies.
That research was published in the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery with Dr Moncrieff listed as one of the authors.
In 2020 we supported a petition which called on the government to reinstate the Medicare item number for mum's injured through pregnancy. It was signed by over 13,000 mums, doctors and others before the closing date of 23 September 2020. A copy can be viewed here: click here.
What needs to happen now:
We hope that this gives the Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt MP, the evidence he needs to restore government support to mums facing significant health issues again. Not for cosmetic surgery, but for reconstructive muscle repair.
What you can do:
Contact your local federal member of parliament and Minister Hunt and ask why the Medicare item number for abdominoplasty excludes women with kids.
A copy of the research:
Click here.
A big thank you:
To everyone who signed the petition and all our patients who took the time to complete the regular research surveys throughout their surgical journey with us, a huge thanks and let’s hope it helps some other women have the same health improvements.
