The Federal Government says it will reject any moves to restrict Medicare funding for IVF, despite the MBS Review Taskforce declaring the current system is leading to clear instances of “low-value care”.

The review’s gynaecology committee is recommending hopeful parents should be limited to six Medicare-funded IVF cycles and blocked from accessing any subsidy for the reproductive procedure once the woman turns 44.

In a report quietly released in the Department of Health’s MBS review document dump before Christmas, the committee says it’s time to end the era of “unrestricted” Medicare funding for IVF, where women can claim an unlimited number of Medicare rebates for the expensive treatment.

The idea has received the backing of the IVF industry and echoes an unsuccessful proposal by then minister for health Tony Abbott from 2005.