The Midwife Professional Indemnity Scheme (MPIS) includes a government contribution to help with claims made against privately practicing midwives. It covers 2 schemes:
- Level 1 Commonwealth Contribution (Level 1).
- Level 2 Commonwealth Contribution (Level 2).
Depending on the scheme level, applications for claims under the MPIS can be made by:
- the insurer
- the midwife whom the claim was made against
- a person acting on behalf of the midwife.
You need to let us know if any details of the incident or claim change after you submit your application. You can email the Medical and Midwife Indemnity Schemes team.
When there is more than one midwife involved in the same claim, a separate payment application must be submitted for each midwife.
If a midwife is involved in multiple claims relating to the same plaintiff and the same incident these claims can be lodged with us as one application. For example, a midwife may be involved in a coronial and civil claim,
For applications that relate to in-hospital incidents, the government reimburses 80% of eligible claims costs incurred by insurers. The claim must exceed the $100,000 threshold, up to $2 million.
For applications that relate to out-of-hospital incidents, the government reimburses 100% of eligible claims costs incurred by insurers. A threshold isn’t applicable, but the claim must not exceed $2 million.
The government reimburses 100% of eligible claim cost incurred. The claim must exceed the $2 million threshold.
A claim may be eligible under Level 1 and Level 2 if it’s made against one of the following:
- an eligible midwife
- an eligible entity for the midwife where applicable.
They must:
- have been registered under the appropriate board or authorising body at the time of the incident
- be indemnified by professional indemnity insurance.
The claim must relate to an incident that occurred:
- on or after 1 July 2010
- in Australia or its external territories.
The claim must:
- be certified as a qualifying claim
- relate to the treatment of a private patient.
The claim can’t be indemnified by:
- the Australian Government, state or territory
- a local governing body as an authority established under the Australian Government, state or territory
- a midwife’s employer.
For us to establish if a claim can be certified as a qualifying claim, complete and return the Midwife Professional Indemnity Scheme - Application for a Qualifying Claim Certificate form (MO067).
Apply for a payment
To apply for payment under Level 1 or Level 2, use the Midwife Professional Indemnity Scheme - Application for payment form (MO069).
We’ll tell you the outcome of the application by the end of the next month.
You need to let us know if any details of the incident or claim change after you submit your application. This includes, but isn’t limited to if:
- you recover an amount from a third party that relates to the amount we paid you
- a judgment or order becomes subject to an appeal or is stayed
- you withdraw support for the insured person
- the amount paid is later found to be not payable under the requirements of the scheme.
You must let us know if you’re aware of an overpayment of any type.