Government announces clinical review of IVF, Australia

Main Category: Fertility
Article Date: 11 May 2005 - 14:00 PDT

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The Australian Government is to review the costs and benefits of assisted reproductive technologies for the purposes of public funding under Medicare. The terms of reference for the review and the members will be announced shortly.

Australian couples have been benefiting from Medicare subsidies for assisted reproductive technologies (also known as IVF) for almost 15 years.

Since Medicare began funding IVF, expenditure has grown from $25.6 million in calendar year 1991, to $50.0 million in 2003 and $78.6 million in 2004. There have also been significant changes in clinical practice over the same period.

The government considers that it is now timely to review the costs and benefits of assisted reproductive technologies for the purposes of public funding under Medicare.

The government will undertake an independent review of the clinical effectiveness of assisted reproductive technologies. The terms of reference for the review and the members will be announced shortly.

The review will not consider the regulation of assisted reproductive technology as this is a state and territory responsibility.

Dept of Health and Ageing, Australia

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