Health · Healthcare & Policy · 1 hr ago
Australia considers Medicare rebates for gender-affirming surgery
The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons has asked for Medicare rebates for more than 30 types of gender-affirming surgery for adults diagnosed with gender incongruence.
The procedures include chest surgery, breast augmentation, vaginoplasty, phalloplasty and facial feminisation surgery.
Many patients currently pay much of the cost themselves, use Medicare items not designed for this care, or travel overseas.
Some operations can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and facial feminisation surgery can cost up to $80,000.
The surgeons’ group says new Medicare items could provide a clearer, more consistent care pathway, including consultations before and after surgery.
The government’s Medical Services Advisory Committee has asked for a fuller review of the clinical evidence and safety before assessing the proposal’s financial impact.
The committee is expected to consider the matter later this year, but Medicare coverage has not been approved.
The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons has applied for Medicare rebates for more than 30 types of gender-affirming surgery and related consultations.
The proposal is before the Medical Services Advisory Committee, which advises the government on public funding for medical services.
The committee has requested a more comprehensive review of clinical evidence on the procedures’ effectiveness and safety.
The application estimates that 47,087 people could use the proposed services in the first full year if approved.
The committee is scheduled to consider the matter later this year.
- Who
- The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons applied for the rebates. The Medical Services Advisory Committee is assessing the proposal.
- What
- The proposal would add Medicare rebates for consultations and more than 30 types of gender-affirming surgery for adults diagnosed with gender incongruence.
- When
- The committee is scheduled to consider the matter later in 2026.
- Where
- Australia.
- Why
- The society says the changes would create a clearer and more consistent pathway to care. The application says they would support a multidisciplinary model of care.
Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons and supporters
Medical Services Advisory Committee
Purpose of the proposal
Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons and supporters
The society says rebates would create a clearer, more consistent pathway to gender-affirming care. Supporters say the procedures can improve quality of life and mental health outcomes.
Medical Services Advisory Committee
The committee has requested a more comprehensive review of clinical evidence before the application can proceed.
Evidence and safety
Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons and supporters
The society has applied for coverage of consultations and a range of surgeries.
Medical Services Advisory Committee
The committee said the initial materials did not adequately assess all relevant information under its guidelines and required a more robust assessment of effectiveness and safety.
The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons applied for Medicare item numbers for consultations and gender-affirming procedures.
MSAC requested a more comprehensive review of the clinical evidence, including effectiveness and safety.
MSAC is scheduled to consider the matter, with clinical evidence and safety assessed first and economic impact examined in a second stage.
- Procedures covered
- More than 30 types
- Estimated first-year users
- 47,087
- Estimated potential candidates
- More than 128,000 transgender Australians
- Vaginoplasty cost
- Up to $60,000
- Facial feminisation surgery cost
- Up to $80,000
What people are saying
Collectively, the objective of these amendments and additions to the MBS is to facilitate a multidisciplinary best model of care framework for patients pursuing medical interventions for gender affirmation that extends before and after any surgery
Sources
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