More financial support is available for Tasmanians needing to travel for health care with the Tasmanian Government’s reforms to the Patient Travel Assistance Scheme (PTAS) now in effect.
PTAS provides financial assistance to eligible Tasmanian residents required to travel to access specialised clinical services, including those living in rural and regional areas who need to travel to hospitals in metropolitan areas and Tasmanians who need to travel interstate for public specialist care.
The changes target eligible Tasmanians living on remote islands, such as King Island and the Furneaux Group Islands to ensure that those who need to travel to access some allied health and preventative services not available locally, can do so at low or no cost. It also provides more choice over accessing services in Tasmania or Victoria.
Furthermore, Island residents who need to stay “off island” for an extended period will also be eligible to receive a subsidised trip home after four weeks of continuous treatment.
The changes are the latest set of reforms to the PTAS as part of the Tasmanian Liberal Government’s plan to ensure Tasmanians can access health care, no matter where they live.
Premier and Minister for Health, Jeremy Rockliff, said the reforms to PTAS are another example of how the Tasmanian Liberal Government is making health care more accessible and affordable, particularly for those living in rural and regional areas.
“Under our government, regardless of the post code of which you live in, Tasmanians needing to travel to access specialised medical services are eligible for more financial support,” the Premier said.
“The changes we have made to PTAS make a real difference to people living in remote island communities who need to travel for specialised health care.
“Additionally, we are better targeting PTAS support to Tasmania-based services, or to the nearest eligible public clinical service interstate."
System-wide improvements are also underway to make the Scheme more patient-focused, more accessible and more effective for Tasmanians.
Further changes will be implemented later this year, including the introduction of taxi vouchers for those who need to fly or take the Spirit of Tasmania to access eligible clinical services.
For more information about PTAS, visit: www.health.tas.gov.au/ptas