This petition is addressed to Federal Health Minister, MP Greg Hunt. In support of the reversal of Medicare item number for abdominal repair surgery post pregnancy. Diastasis Recti is a muscle separation in the abdomen that many women suffer the effects of due to multiple or large pregnancies. If the separation is too wide, Diastasis Recti can only be corrected with abdominal repair surgery. This item was recognised by Medicare and previously covered however it was removed from the Medicare rebate schedule in 2016 with the misconception that it is primarily a cosmetic procedure, due to the external skin repair that is also performed during this surgery. 
The effects of sagging skin due to extreme weight gain and weight loss is currently covered by Medicare, however if these same effects are due to pregnancy, they are considered cosmetic, thus not covered. This discriminates against one group who suffer the exact same condition, under different circumstances. Women gain weight quickly, it’s part of pregnancy. For some women this leads to the exact same adverse effects and life long skin conditions that extreme weight gain and loss does. Along with this condition. the inside of the abdomen muscles are separated due to pregnancy. In most cases these muscles can and do repair over time, with specific exercises. In some women this separation is too wide and never repairs. This causes a lot of problems and limitations. It is also the cause of health problems relating to hip and back for many women (down the track).

Research published in the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery with Dr Nicholas Moncrieff, Dr Dilip Gahankari, Dr Graham Sellars and Dr Mark Magnusson, included as co-authors, concluded emphatically just how helpful abdominoplasty can be at reducing the chronic health issue and preventing serous health issues which can develop. 

I am one of the thousands of women living with the effects of Diastasis Recti due to 4 pregnancies. I pay my tax contributions to Medicare and also have private health. Yet, since it was decided that it is primarily cosmetic, I am not covered to have this procedure. To pursue this treatment without an item number will cost me 15-20k. This is not only unreasonable, it completely dismisses this condition as a medical condition.

Ultimately your support will help many women. 

The decision to undergo major surgery  is by all means not primarily a cosmetic procedure. 

I ask that MP Greg Hunt revise the Medicare rebate schedule, making it inclusive to all who suffer from skin conditions due to excessive weight gain and loss (including pregnancy). I ask MP Greg Hunt revise the Medicare rebate schedule to restore the much needed item number for abdominal repair allowing
Diastasis Recti to be recognised as a medical condition and making it accessible to the women who need it.

Until this procedure is no longer deemed primarily cosmetic, it will continue to compromise my health and the health of many other women in need of abdominal repair due to pregnancy. 

Since 2016, many women have been accessing early super, applying for loans or putting off surgery.  

Help put an end to this  modern day sexism and support women in accessing required medical treatment to fix their broken bodies. It is time to put an end to misconceptions and stigmas regarding this issue 

Thank you xx 

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