Each State Government provides schemes to assist patients and their carers with the cost of attending medical appointments and treatments when they live over 100kms away one way from their nearest specialist.
Clicking on the state name will give you access to that state’s Patient Transport Scheme website. Links below the state name provide downloadable PDF’s of their specific application forms.
If patients are intending to use their relevant state Patient Transport Scheme to have The Ryder-Cheshire Ivanhoe Home bulk bill their accommodation they must submit their completed forms to the office at the start of their stay so that the Home has the time and relevant working days to get the forms approved by the states department before they leave.
VICTORIA:
Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS) covers some travel and accommodation costs incurred by rural Victorians when they travel more than 100 kilometres one way for specialist medical treatment. To be eligible, patients must live in a designated rural area and not be undergoing clinical trials or accessing allied healthcare. An approved medical specialist or authorised officer must sign the claim form.
VPTAS travel and accommodation subsidy rates are:
The travel subsidy $0.21 per kilometre
The accommodation subsidy is $45.00 per night per person
TASMANIA:
The Patient Travel Assistance Scheme (PTAS) provides financial help with travel and/or accommodation costs to Tasmanian residents who need to travel:
- more than 50 km (one way) to the nearest oncology or dialysis treatment centre
- more than 75 km (one way) to the nearest appropriate specialist medical service
- more than 75 km (one way) to access lymphoedema treatment
from their permanent residence.
Benefits are only paid for interstate referrals when the treatment is unavailable in Tasmania.
ACT:
The ACT Interstate Patient Travel Assistance Scheme –– subject to meeting eligibility criteria, ACT IPTAS provides financial assistance towards travel and accommodation costs to permanent residents of the ACT who are required to travel interstate for specialist medical treatment that is not currently available in the Territory.
You can lodge the form at the following health centres:
- Canberra Hospital main reception
- Belconnen – Lathlain Street
- City – Moore Street
- Gungahlin – corner of Ernest Cavanagh Street and Fussell Lane
- Phillip – Corinna Street
- Tuggeranong – Anketell Street
You can see the IPTAS Guidelines for more information.
NEW SOUTH WALES:
- IPTAAS Claim Form
- IPTAAS Application to Bulk Bill Accommodation
- IPTAAS Travel & Accommodation Supplement – Required at End of Stay
IPTAAS is the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme. This is a NSW Government scheme providing financial assistance towards travel and accommodation costs when a patient needs to travel long distances for treatment that is not available locally.
QUEENSLAND:
The PTSS provides financial support for travel and accommodation for eligible patients needing to travel to access specialist medical services.
If you live in Queensland, and have been referred by a clinician to a specialist medical service that is not available at your local public hospital you may be eligible for a subsidy.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
- The PATS online portal is quick and easy to use – login or register to make your claim. Make sure you have an email address and your Medicare number handy.
The Patient Assistance Transport Scheme (PATS) is a scheme which provides subsidies towards the cost of travel and accommodation when rural and remote South Australians have to travel to see their nearest medical specialist.
You may be eligible for PATS if:
- you live more than 100 kilometres away from the nearest treating specialist
- your treatment is claimable under Medicare
- you have claimed any available benefits from your private health fund.
NORTHERN TERRITORY:
The Patient Assistance Travel Scheme (PATS) is a subsidy program that provides financial help for travel and accommodation expenses if you need to travel a long distance to see an approved medical specialist. You must be referred by a medical professional to the nearest approved specialist.
The scheme covers all of the following:
- return fares to and from appointments
- accommodation costs of up to $60 each night
- ground transport costs – such as for taxis and buses – a maximum of $50 each trip will be paid when you provide a receipt/s
- you can claim 20 cents per kilometre if you drive more than 200km to an appointment.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA:
Funded by Royalties for Regions, the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) provides a subsidy towards the cost of travel and accommodation for eligible WA country residents only travelling long distances to seek certain categories of specialist medical services.