Medical and Midwife Indemnity Legislation Amendment 2021

# Medical and Midwife Indemnity Legislation Amendment 2021 ## What it does This bill updates the insurance rules for doctors and midwives so they can get proper liability cover if something goes wrong during treatment. It clarifies what counts as valid professional indemnity insurance and fixes gaps in the existing system, particularly for midwives who work independently or in small practices. ## Why it matters Doctors and midwives need insurance to protect themselves financially if they're sued by patients. Without clear rules about what insurance counts, some practitioners—especially midwives—faced uncertainty about whether they were actually covered when they needed it most. This bill removes that confusion. ## Key details - **Two separate timelines**: Changes for doctors kicked in from July 1, 2020, while midwife changes came into effect July 1, 2021 - **Midwife-specific rules**: The bill now recognises two types of valid insurance for midwives—cover from a licensed midwife insurer, or a standalone policy that covers only that individual midwife and their patients - **Eligibility clarified**: Midwives need to be "eligible" under the scheme and have proper insurance naming them specifically, otherwise they don't qualify for government support if a claim arises

🔒 Voting closed — this bill has been decided by parliament