The QNMU has been advised by the Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer of a gap in professional indemnity insurance cover for intrapartum care provided by a participating midwife outside of a hospital setting.
This gap means participating midwives providing this service for women planning a hospital birth, are not covered by professional indemnity insurance. The National Law only provides an exemption for homebirth.
The QNMU in conjunction with other ANMF branches and the Australian College of Midwives (ACM) is seeking an immediate and urgent response from the Commonwealth government.
The QNMU understands your concerns regarding this matter and the potential impact on both your professional practice and the safety and care of your clients, but please be assured we are actively working to resolve this matter quickly and appropriately, and we will continue to provide regular updates as we receive advice.
To read the full letter provided by the Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer click here.

Am I affected?

This gap primarily affects midwives who provide home-based intrapartum care for women/persons who are otherwise planning hospital births.
It does not affect midwives who are caring, at home, for women who have elected to have a home birth.
It is not clear yet whether this gap also has implications for Telehealth intrapartum service.
We will continue to seek clarification on these matters.

What does this mean for my practice?

This means intrapartum care and use of Medicare Benefits Scheme item 82116, is not currently covered under your professional indemnity insurance.
MBS item 82116 was introduced on 1 March 2022 to provide for management of labour by a participating midwife for up to six hours, not including birth, at a place other than a hospital.

This item should not be claimed until this issue is resolved.
In the current situation, providing intrapartum care to a woman seeking a hospital birth is not insured and therefore you would be working outside the conditions of your registration.
You can continue to provide intrapartum care/assessment in a hospital setting.

What steps are being taken?

All branches of the ANMF (including the QNMU), the Australian College of Midwives, and My Midwives, have all raised urgent concerns with State and Federal governments in relation to this issue, including concerns around:

• clinical practice
• financial and funding impacts for midwives
• the lack of information provided to midwives by the indemnity insurer (MIGA), or the NMBA, in relation to the immediate action they should take
• what midwives should say to consumers who have planned hospital birth, and intrapartum care
• the potential for broad-reaching unintended consequences of this gap.

We are seeking urgent action from the Commonwealth on this issue, including:

• asking the NMBA to take immediate action to advise all midwives of this change
• insisting MIGA continues to cover it, or
• that the Commonwealth indemnifies this care as a temporary measure. 

Where can I get more information?

• MIGA general enquiries: 1800 777 156.