The NSW
Government will help regional and rural patients impacted by bushfires with
their travel and accommodation costs when attending specialist medical
treatments.Deputy
Premier John Barilaro said the NSW Government is looking at ways to support
bushfire-affected communities with practical solutions to make life a little
easier during an incredibly tough time.
“People in
bushfire-affected areas have enough to worry about at the moment without the
additional stress of finding extra money to travel long distances to see a
specialist.”
Health
Minister Brad Hazzard said the criteria for the Isolated Patients Travel and
Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS) will be broadened so patients impacted
by bushfires can access the subsidy to help cover out-of-pocket costs.
“Some
patients in regional and rural areas will have to travel a longer route or
extend their stay due to road closures or poor weather
conditions, so this scheme will help ease some of the financial pressure,” Mr
Hazzard said.
The IPTAAS
provides subsidies for transport and accommodation expenses incurred when
travelling at least 100km, or a cumulative distance of at least 200km in a week
for specialist medical treatment.
Cancer
Council NSW’s Director of Information and Support Services Annie Miller said
the scheme would assist cancer patients unable to return home between
treatments.
“This will make a significant difference to patients and their families
having regular cancer treatments who haven’t been able to return home due to road closures
or poor air quality and have
been forced to spend more on accommodation and travel,” Ms Miller said.
Patients are
encouraged to include additional information such as extenuating circumstances
and tax invoices within their applications. Anyone experiencing financial
hardship should contact IPTAAS to discuss payment options.
Investment in
IPTAAS has more than doubled over the past seven years, from $12.2 million in
2011-12 to $25.9 million in 2018-19, helping more than 30,000 patients.
For more information about the IPTAAS scheme, call 1800 478 227 or go
to: http://www.iptaas.health.nsw.gov.au/home