TUBES (HOST): We are joined by the Federal Labor and Member for Lyons, the Assistant Minister for Women, Health and Aged Care and Indigenous Health - Rebecca White, good morning.
REBECCA WHITE: Morning Tubes, morning Kaz, thanks for having me on.
TUBES: There's been a big announcement on November 1 with further changes to the Medicare Benefits Scheme that will give women more contraceptive choice by making it cheaper and easier to access IUDs and contraceptive implants. Rebecca White, tell us why that's important for Tasmanian women.
REBECCA WHITE: It's important because women shouldn't have to jump through hoops to get the health care they need. And I think for so long, women have felt a bit dismissed, not really listened to, and a little bit stigmatised when they want to talk about things like contraception.
So this is a change that is going to make it cheaper and easier for women in Tassie right around the country, to access the contraceptives that they would like to choose, as opposed to what their bank balance can afford.
We've made it more affordable for women to access a whole range of contraception from the first of May this year, we listed new medicines on the PBS, and from Saturday, so the first of November, we've made it cheaper for women to access an IUD or an Implanon, which are those long acting birth control methods that women would like to be able to choose.
But I think in some cases, the price was just making it too hard. It was about $400 out of pocket. So that will all change from this week, which is great news for women.
KAZ (HOST): This is amazing news. And it's not only that you need to find a GP to get into and then you put it off, because there's a huge cost just to go to the GP and then to have that conversation, and then to go down to the pharmacy and pick up what you need. So, what are the changes? What are the dollars that we're saving? How much?
REBECCA WHITE: Yeah, so we estimate across the country, 300,000 women will benefit from the change we're making to provide cheaper access to IUDs.
But just in Tassie from the first of May, since we've listed new medicines on the PBS, and this is including contraception, endometriosis medicine and some menopause therapies, 13,000 Tasmanian women have accessed those cheaper medicines. They've got 34,000 scripts filled, and they've saved over a million dollars.
That's just this year in Tasmania alone, which is great news, because I think a lot of women put off getting these types of medicines because they just got the generic variety. We hadn't seen a listing on the PBS of new contraceptives for 30 years, and they weren't necessarily getting the best one that works with their body.
So, it'll make a massive difference. And also, from this weekend, we've made a significant investment in Medicare to make bulk billing appointments available for more people across the country, including in Tassie, more GPs moving to be fully bulk billing practices, which means that if you want to make an appointment to go and have a chat to your GP about any women's health issue, you should be able to go and do that with a GP who can bulk bill you.
I know in Tassie, we've partnered with Family Planning, who are also delivering our persistent pelvic pain clinic. I hear a lot of stories from women who are struggling with things like endometriosis and just can't get a diagnosis. Family Planning has been doing outstanding work with us, and they are providing bulk billing appointments for things like IUDs. So, it's worth ringing around to find a provider.
You can jump on healthdirect.gov.au, and put your postcode in, and you can search up what services are available, including GP services. And make sure that you ask the question, because from this week, you should be able to access a bulk billed GP appointment somewhere near you.
KAZ: Yeah, we put it off. And you think, this is not important. I'm just, I'm there to take up the GPs time. I'm not important. What I'm suffering with is what everyone puts up with. But we don't have to Bec. This is the whole point.
You've broken down the barriers. So, the GPs are there, they're not going to cost you a fortune, especially this time of year. There are more important things that we think we have to spend our money on, but it's also about HRT, that's hormone replacement therapy, there are options out there for women to go and get.
Don't be dismissed by your normal doctor that you've been to for 30 years. Shop around and go and get yourself sorted out, because it is very important. And with what they're now prescribing you are more options that will suit you, which is brilliant. So, thank you.
REBECCA WHITE: Yes, it is great news, and it is about making sure it suits the woman and what her body needs rather than what you can afford. And the fact that we've listed more menopause hormone therapies on the PBS allows women to potentially try a few different options before you can get that special recipe right, because sometimes you have to chop and change.
And from the first of January next year as well, we're making medicines on the PBS even cheaper. So, they'll come down to $25, if you're a concession card holder, $7.70 for a script.
But if you're a working person, you're paying about $31.60 so it'll come down even more, which is great news. It means that women don't have to think, “oh, how can I afford this? And I've got to save up for Christmas presents, and I've got to think about that birthday and other end of year events.”
Hopefully they can find a GP that can work with them to get that right, so that they don't have to struggle in silence. And you nailed it. A lot of women put off going to the GP because we've been told repeatedly, this is just something you go through. It's completely normal, and you just have to put up with it. It's that time of life. Just deal with it.
KAZ: Not now, not the case.
REBECCA WHITE: Please go and have a chat to somebody, because you can have much better quality of life, and there's a lot of medicines and support there to help you.
TUBES: Rebecca White, the Federal Labor Member for Lyons, thanks for prioritising the health of our women in Tasmania, we appreciate your time on Triple M.
REBECCA WHITE: Thanks.