An birth funding injection is soon to benefit a private maternity provider in Auckland.
The public Health Funding Authority is about to negotiate with Birthcare Auckland to lift the ceiling on its current 250
public births per year.
The HFA says that limit might be removed once the contract is re-negotiated.
The re-negotiations will be part of a new nationwide funding formula for births. Only hospitals currently with HFA
contracts will be able to renegotiate under the new birthing plan, that is unless a hospital can produce evidence that
there is a demonstrated need in its area.
Currently, there are four private maternity units being funded by the Health Funding Authority in Auckland, Hamilton and
Christchurch, with another 20 such private units receiving public contracts nationwide.