Fed: Row over Medicare funding for IVF deepens

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2000
Fed: Row over Medicare funding for IVF deepens

Federal Health Minister MICHAEL WOOLDRIDGE has contradicted Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD
over whether in-vitro fertilisation treatment should be subsidised for lesbians and single
women.

Mr HOWARD yesterday ruled out banning Medicare payments for IVF treatments on women
choosing to have a baby without a male partner, saying it would discriminate against the
poor.

But Dr WOOLDRIDGE says IVF is like a face lift, warning doctors against billing Medicare
for elective surgery.

Dr WOOLDRIDGE has threatened to prosecute doctors who bill Medicare for IVF treatments
on fertile women whose only barrier to normal conception is the lack of a man.

AAP RTV mfh/wz/jn

KEYWORD: IVF (CANBERRA)

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