Medicare Benefits for Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT)

In 2021, the Australian government introduced $95.9 million in funding for Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) under the Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS). This funding allows eligible families to access genetic testing of embryos as part of their in-vitro fertilization (IVF) process, aimed at screening for hereditary conditions like Huntington’s disease.

Starting from November 1, 2021, eligible families can receive up to an 85% Medicare rebate for testing the biological parents and embryos, depending on the number of embryos being tested. This initiative supports families on their IVF journey by alleviating some of the financial burden associated with genetic testing.

Eligibility for MBS Rebate

According to Clause 2.7.3A of the MBS, individuals or reproductive partners are eligible for items 73384 to 73387 if any of the following apply:

• • The patient or their reproductive partner carries an identified gene variant that puts them at risk of having a pregnancy affected by a Mendelian or mitochondrial disorder.
  • They are at risk of an autosomal dominant disorder, like Huntington’s disease, which could be passed to their child.
  • They have a chromosome re-arrangement or copy number variant that places the pregnancy at risk of being affected by a chromosome disorder.
  • The disorder has no curative treatment, and it severely limits the quality of life, despite modern medical management.
  • The patient has previously consulted with a clinical geneticist about the disorder.