Stirling Griff (SA, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Nash, the Minister representing the Minister for Health. Under the External Breast Prostheses Reimbursement Program, women who have had breast surgery as result of cancer are able to claim a reimbursement of up to $400 for each breast prosthesis every two years. The recent prosthesis inquiry heard evidence that this initial up-front cost is very much unaffordable for low-income breast cancer survivors. Is the minister aware that breast cancer survivors are being forced to go without these prostheses because they are unable to meet the initial up-front costs which are ultimately reimbursed through the program?