Long-awaited funding for women’s reproductive health

With a federal budget and election looming, the federal government has pledged half a billion dollars towards women’s reproductive health.

Subsidising alternative, lower risk hormone therapies has eluded the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in the wake of shortages in hormone replacement therapy patches for years. Now, the first new PBS listing for menopausal hormone treatments in more than 20 years has been announced. Another decades-long change is the first endometriosis medicine to be listed on the PBS in 30 years.

Medicare payments to doctors will be boosted for appointments to insert intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs).  

The announcement from Health Minister Mark Butler includes:

• The first PBS listing for new oral contraceptive pills in more than 30 years, with the listing of Yaz and Yasmin saving 50 000 women hundreds of dollars a year.
• More choice, lower costs and better access to long term contraceptives, with larger Medicare payments and more bulk billing for IUDs and birth control implants saving around 300 000 women up to $400 in out-of-pocket costs a year.
• More Medicare support for women experiencing menopause, with a new Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments, funding to train health professionals, the first-ever clinical guidelines and a national awareness campaign.
• The first PBS listing for new menopausal hormone therapies in over 20 years, with around 150 000 women saving hundreds of dollars a year from the listing of Prometrium, Estrogel and Estrogel Pro.
• More endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics treating more conditions, opening 11 new clinics and ensuring all 33 clinics are staffed to provide specialist support for endometriosis and pelvic pain
• Contraceptives and treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections directly from pharmacies, with two national trials to benefit 250 000 concession cardholders who will be able to consult a trained pharmacist at no cost and, if medications are required, pay only the usual medicine cost.

The move follows the 2024 Parliamentary Inquiry into menopause and perimenopause and has been widely welcomed by health groups.

“This is wonderful news that will make a meaningful difference to the lives of countless Australian women,” Dr Sonia Davidson, endocrinologist for the not-for-profit women’s health organisation, Jean Hailes Clinic said.

“This decision acknowledges the impact of menopause on women’s lives and ensures they have access to modern treatment without a sizeable cost burden,” Dr Davidson said.

“For far too long, menopausal women have had their experiences dismissed and faced barriers to accessing affordable treatment options,” she said.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners also welcomed the funding for increased long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) and new funding for menopause health assessments.

“The RACGP has been calling for more funding for women’s health and we applaud the Albanese Government for this package, particularly funding for health assessments and LARCs,” RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said.

“We know cost-of-living is hitting women hard. Surveys show that women are more likely to have delayed seeking essential health care due to costs than men. And, on top of this, medical misogyny is embedded in Medicare,” Dr Wright said.

“Better funding for women’s health, including contraceptives and health assessments, is an investment that will pay off. It will improve health and wellbeing, reduce pressure on our health system, and help reduce gender bias in our health system,” he said. 

“The current subsidy for intrauterine device (IUD) insertion is just $77, while a vasectomy, which is equally complex and time consuming, gets much more funding at $222. The RACGP spoke about this issue and the need for more funding with Health and Aged Care Assistant Minister Ged Kearney just last year,” he said.

“The new generation contraceptive pills being added to the PBS will also give women greater options and choices,” Dr Wright said.

“New funding for menopause health assessments will immediately improve access to affordable and high quality care from specialist GPs for those who need it,” he said.

Experts in women’s reproductive health have also welcomed the announcement saying it will encourage women to use contraceptives other than the pill.

“The funding will go a long way to reversing the low uptake of long-acting reversible contraception like IUDs, which are safe, and more effective than the contraceptive pill,” stated Professor Danielle Mazza of the SPHERE NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health in Primary Care at Monash University.

“Changes to the Medicare Benefits Scheme for insertions by GPs and nurse practitioners mean that women can now get access to IUD and Implanon insertion and removals appointments at no out-of-pocket cost, with women only having to pay for the cost of the prescription,” Professor Mazza said.

“These new measures mean that GPs and nurse practitioners will receive more appropriate remuneration for providing these services and so more and more will choose to do so, making these excellent contraceptives more available and accessible,” she said.

The Health Services Union (HSU) said the package is a great step, but said reproductive health leave is an important missing piece.

“Women experiencing period pain, IVF journeys, miscarriage, terminations, treatments or anything relating to their reproductive health should be able to access specific paid leave and flexibility,” HSU National Senior Assistant Secretary Kate Marshall said.

“Making reproductive health leave a universal entitlement is not only dignifying for Australian women, but it makes economic sense. A huge number of our workers are women, and our leave entitlements should acknowledge our reproductive needs,” she said.

The contraceptives and HRT therapies will be listed on the PBS from March 1. For further information on when the different measures will take effect, click here.

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