THE government is expected to target one of the more delicate areas of medical care - cosmetic genital surgery - in its search for cuts to the cost of Medicare.

The increase in so-called ''designer vagina'' surgical procedures is expected to come under tougher scrutiny in relation to eligibility for Medicare benefits in Tuesday's budget.

The procedure is one of several operations that can be performed outside hospital and thus attract the benefit of the Medicare safety net which considerably reduces the out-of-pocket cost of expensive surgery.

Vulvoplasty or labioplasty, sought by patients to improve the shape and size of the vagina, and to treat painful or embarrassing conditions, can be eligible for Medicare payments if deemed to be clinically necessary, but not if performed purely for cosmetic reasons. The operation can cost about $4500.

However the number of these procedures done outside hospital attracting payments under the Medicare safety net has nearly doubled in recent years to 191 in 2010, at a cost of $427,551.