Maternity claims

The Primary Maternity Services Notice 2021 (the 2021 Notice) sets out the service specifications and payment rules for remuneration of those practitioners with an authorisation to claim for the provision of community-based primary maternity services.

In 2021, the previous Primary Maternity Services Notice (the 2007 Notice), was updated so it could better deliver funding allocated in Budget 2020 for additional primary maternity care to women with complex needs, and to women living in rural areas.

The changes came into effect when the 2021 Notice was implemented on 29 November 2021. 

Services provided on or after 29 November 2021 should be provided in accordance with the new 2021 Notice. 

The 2007 Notice, and associated claim payments, will continue to apply to any care provided up to and including 28 November 2021.

The 2021 Notice was published in the New Zealand Gazette on 30 June 2021.

• Find the Primary Maternity Services Notice 2021 on the New Zealand Gazette site
• Download the Primary Maternity Services Notice 2021 (DOCX 135KB)
• Download the Primary Maternity Services Notice 2021 (PDF 671KB)

The amended Primary Maternity Services Notice went live on 29 November 2021. Primary maternity care delivered on or after 29 November 2021 should now be provided in accordance with the new 2021 Notice.

As of 29 November 2022, we no longer accept claims for services provided under the 2007 Notice.

Claims for primary maternity care with a date of service on or after 29 November 2021 must be submitted to the Ministry of Health via a maternity IT vendor for electronical processing.

According to the 2021 Notice, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora will not accept claims for services provided under the 2021 Notice either manually or through the OMC portal.

Claims must now submitted electronically through a software vendor.

To find out how to submit forms electronically, call Sector Operations on 0800 855 066.

Ultrasound services claims are still manual

The only service that remains manual are Ultrasound services.

Claim form for Ultrasound Services (PDF 60KB)

Mail Ultrasound services completed forms to:

Sector Operations
PO Box 1026
Wellington 6140

Sector Operations can tell you if a woman has already been registered with a Lead Maternity Carer – call 0800 855 066. They won’t be able to tell you who the lead maternity carer is.

To register as a maternity provider, download and complete the application pack:

• Maternity Application form September 2024 (DOCX 330KB)
• Employer Verification form September 2024 (DOCX 330KB)

You can send forms either electronically or in the post.

Mail completed forms to:

Sector Operations
PO Box 1026
Wellington 6140

To send them electronically, call Sector Operations on 0800 855 066.

You can submit multiple claim forms at once. Please ensure that all forms are securely attached to each other.

If you need more forms and can't download them, call us on 0800 855 066. The forms are free but you will need to provide your payee number.

If you have filled out a form on your computer, print it off and post to the address above. Remember to keep a copy for your own records

Payment turnaround is based on the way Sector Operations receives your claims.

• If you send your claims electronically, they will be processed and paid within 10 working days of receipt.
• If you post your claims on paper, they will be processed within 22 working days of receipt.

To ensure prompt payment, make sure the information you provide is correct and that all required information has been included.

If you are submitting forms electronically, make certain they provide all the information that a standard Sector Operations form has and that they are in an easy-to-understand format.

If you have any questions about the claim form requirements, call Sector Operations on 0800 855 066.

If your claim form is sent back, we will include a letter explaining why the form was rejected. In most cases the errors are also highlighted on the claim form.