Industry News
MDFA Criticises Government's MBS Changes Impacting Eye Treatments
The Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA) has raised significant concerns over the federal government’s plan to change the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) to remove private health insurance rebates for intravitreal injections from July 2025. These injections are vital for treating macular diseases like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy, which are leading causes of blindness in Australia.
Currently, patients can access these treatments in private hospitals, where health fund rebates ease the cost burden. Under the new policy, those receiving care in the private sector will no longer have access to these rebates, significantly increasing out-of-pocket costs. The MDFA fears that this could lead to many Australians discontinuing essential treatments due to financial constraints, risking preventable vision loss.
The MDFA’s CEO, Dr. Kathy Chapman, expressed deep concern over the potential consequences of the government’s decision. Chapman noted that the policy disproportionately impacts older Australians, many of whom are on fixed incomes, and depend on regular intravitreal injections to maintain their sight.
The MDFA is calling on the federal and state governments to collaborate on solutions that maintain affordable access to critical eye care. The foundation advocates for more investment in the public health system to expand capacity while also preserving patients’ ability to choose private healthcare options with manageable costs.
Macular disease affects one in seven Australians over the age of 50, making it the leading cause of legal blindness in the country. The foundation’s response is part of a broader effort to ensure that people living with macular conditions are not left behind as healthcare policies evolve. The MDFA urges patients, healthcare providers, and the broader community to engage with policymakers to address the issue and secure better outcomes for those at risk of vision loss.
MDFA calls on the Australian Government to ensure adequate and equitable access to affordable intravitreal injection treatment across the country. This will require the Australian and State/Territory governments to work together to:
- Introduce an ophthalmology practice incentive to bulk bill eye injections for age pensioners with neovascular AMD.
- Ensure increased access to eye injection treatment in public hospital outpatient clinics which can only happen if state and federal governments work together.
- Establish partnerships between the public and private health systems to boost treatment access options for people needing intravitreal injections.
- Provide funding to help establish new ophthalmology clinics in areas of high demand for treatment, with agreements that these clinics will provide bulk billed eye injections.
As the July 2025 deadline approaches, the MDFA continues its campaign to raise awareness and prevent changes to the MBS that would jeopardise the sight of thousands of Australians.