The Ministry of Health proposes significant cash increases for lead maternity carers.
However, the ministry said the proposed changes would mean all publicly funded specialist services would be available only through public hospitals.
Maternity practitioners - including midwives, general practitioners, obstetricians and radiologists - will get a 10.5 per cent increase for their services if the changes are introduced.
The increases include:
* A 29 per cent increase for services following the birth.
* A 10.5 per cent increase for an ultrasound scan.
* A 30 per cent increase for a pregnancy care consultation.
* A 36 per cent increase for travel costs incurred during postnatal rural home visits.
* A new fee for 15 or more postnatal home midwifery visits.
A 12-week consultation period begins this month, and the changes are expected to be introduced in March next year.
Maternity manager Barbara Browne said the reshuffle would be the first significant change in maternity funding since 1996.
The increases would encourage maternity practitioners to keep working in the sector.
"With the extra funding New Zealand lead maternity carers (midwives, obstetricians and general practitioners) can be appropriately rewarded for the maternity services they provide," she said.
The proposed changes mean that pregnant women will have access to obstetricians, paediatricians and anaesthetists for specialist services they require through public hospitals, in the same way other publicly funded specialist services are provided.
At the moment women with complications during pregnancy can be referred to a hospital to see a specialist. This is paid for by the Government. Other women may decide to see a private specialist and may be charged a co-payment.
"There is no need for women to pay extra money for these specialist services. Hospitals are already funded to provide specialist care where women need it," Ms Browne said.
Savings from this proposal would be used to fund the price increase for lead maternity carers. Around $3.7 million announced in the May Budget has also been set aside.
Another proposed change to the contract will see maternity practitioners prevented from charging women co-payments for lead maternity care.
Ms Browne said the proposal also clarified expectations that midwives would submit themselves to a professional review process.
She described the midwives' review process as very sound and quite rigorous, but said the proposals made clearer the requirements involved.
Ms Browne will hold meetings with the Medical Association and the College of Midwives to discuss the price increase and other changes in the present maternity contract.
College of Midwives director Karen Guilliland yesterday welcomed the changes.
- NZPA
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