This article was commissioned and funded by Bayer Australia Ltd but independently authored by AusDoc.

The new changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) for long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) are being hailed as a major step forward for contraceptive access and women’s health, particularly in primary care.

“This is a genuine game-changer for patient access,” says Dr Sneha Wadhwani, co-founder and National Clinical Director of Evoca Women’s Health.

She says the reforms finally align remuneration with the skill, time and risk involved in LARC procedures. And she believes the changes could dramatically increase uptake of hormonal IUDs and contraceptive implants for both contraceptive and therapeutic use.