‘Screening should not be based on ability to pay’: Australian healthcare providers' and consumers' perspectives on public funding for non-invasive prenatal testing

Abstract

Background: Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) does not receive any Medicare rebate. This study investigated the views of Australian healthcare providers and consumers on public funding of NIPT. Materials and methods: Two anonymous online, cross-sectional surveys were conducted from September 2022 to January 2023. Surveys targeted maternity healthcare professionals (‘providers’), and individuals who had recently conceived a pregnancy (‘consumers’). Quantitative data were analysed using χ2 test. Free-text responses were analysed by inductive content analysis. Results: Responses from 381 providers and 630 consumers were analysed. The overwhelming majority of providers (96.8%) identified fina..