Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said in the Western Local Health District 841 new patients have lodged claims under the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS) since August 1, when the NSW Government’s $149.5 million funding boost came into effect.
4,572 new patients have taken advantage of the increased financial assistance available to people in regional communities who need to travel long distances to receive specialist care.
“It is fantastic that as a Government we are able to help reduce the financial burden of regional NSW patients and their families when travelling for treatment,” Mr Toole said.
“The NSW Government has not only increased subsidies for travel and accommodation but there are now tens of thousands more people eligible for the scheme.”
The subsidy for people requiring accommodation has been almost doubled, while the NSW Government has also almost doubled the private vehicle subsidy rate from 22 cents to 40 cents per kilometre for patients who have to travel more than 100 kilometres for care.
As well as receiving more money back, additional patients are now eligible – those attending non-commercial clinical trials, high risk foot clinics, highly specialised publicly funded dental health clinics and ocularists.
Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor said the changes are making an enormous difference for people living in our regional and rural communities.
“We know there were people in our regional and rural communities who were not seeking the care they needed because of the high cost of travel and accommodation,” Mrs Taylor said.
“With the increased subsidies now available, many of these people are now receiving life-changing treatment.
“This crucial program is helping to ensure that no matter where you live in NSW, you can access the healthcare you need.”
Community-based charity Can Assist provides financial support to cancer patients living in rural and regional areas to help access treatment and care.
“I can’t put into words the weight I see lifted when patients and our volunteers realise what the increase in IPTAAS rebates means for them,” Can Assist Executive Director Emma Phillips said.
The NSW Government is launching a comprehensive awareness campaign to promote the benefits of the expanded scheme, which will include flyers, fact sheets, an updated website and social media posts targeting existing, new and potential patients and their families and carers.
In addition, NSW Health is continuing to review and streamline the IPTAAS application processes to make it easier for patients to lodge claims.
