08/04/2026
Some good news for whanau! Unfortunately its still expensive, but good to see there is some movement in this sector!
RANZCOG and New Zealand College of Midwives welcome the commitment from Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora and the Hon. Simeon Brown, Minister of Health, to deliver long-term solutions for maternity ultrasound funding. We also acknowledge the introduction of interim measures to ease the burden of unaffordable co-payments while urgent work on developing sustainable funding models continues.
Late last year, when a significant rise in maternity ultrasound co-payments was anticipated, NZCOM and RANZCOG wrote to the Minister seeking immediate action - calling for both short-term relief and a comprehensive review of funding.
Today’s announcement confirms new arrangements with private, community-based providers - who deliver most maternity ultrasound scans - to cap co-payments at $30 for those with a Community Services Card and $90 for others. This is a reduction from the previously proposed increases of $75 and $150.
For many years, RANZCOG and NZCOM have raised concerns about outdated funding and rising co-payments, warning that cost barriers will prevent families from accessing clinically necessary scans - potentially putting mothers and babies at risk of avoidable harm.
Read more on the College’s website: https://ranzcog.edu.au/news/maternity-ultrasound-funding/
