Patient travel subsidy scheme

We may help you pay if:

• transport to and from the health facility is not possible in the same day
• your specialist doctor advises you to stay
• there are limited air services to King Island or Furneaux Islands
• approval has been granted to extend your stay by one or two days to attend other approved health appointments.

No.

• We can help cover the costs of someone to travel with you if you are under the age of 18 years. This person is called an escort.
• If you are aged 18 years or over, an escort may be eligible for financial assistance if you need them to actively assist you during your travel or treatment.
• Approval may be given for financial assistance for more than one escort in some exceptional circumstances. Please contact your local PTAS Coordinator to discuss.

If you think you may have problems, please contact your local PTAS Coordinator to discuss.

• If you are unable to pay up-front, please contact your local PTAS office to discuss alternative options.
• Some accommodation providers agree to receive the PTAS accommodation allowance directly from us. This means you only pay the extra amount when you check out.
• Some accommodation providers offer a special daily or weekly rate especially for patients and their carers. Find out more from your local PTAS office.

• If you think you may have problems, please contact your local PTAS office to discuss.
• You will be required to prove that you are in financial difficulty.
• If your claim for hardship consideration is accepted, you will not be refused to access PTAS.

No. We encourage you to access the service in Tasmania.

• Yes. You are entitled to two weeks’ accommodation support prior to the birth of your baby.
• If you have a complicated pregnancy or need medical support before you give birth, you may be able to get more help.
• We will help you pay some of your travel cost based on a return economy airfare (Island Resident rates)
• We will also help you pay for the most economical, appropriate form of transport from the destination airport to and from the medical facility.

• Yes. The donor and recipient are both eligible for the travel and accommodation subsidy.
• You can also have someone travel with you. This person is called an escort.
• We will pay for some of your escort’s accommodation from the night prior to the operation until you are cleared to return home.

• We will only pay for one journey to a medical appointment.
• If you are unable to travel on a pre-paid journey, you must tell us and cancel at least 24-hours in advance.
• If you miss the appointment without good reason or do not provide adequate notice, you are not eligible for a second trip unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Yes, if:

• a hospital admission for an elective procedure has been postponed
• a specialist appointment is cancelled or postponed
• you are not notified until after commencing the journey.

In these cases, we will provide the level of financial assistance allowable towards the cost of your travel.

• If your medical specialist requests a further opinion, you may receive the appropriate travel allowance and, if necessary, an accommodation allowance. This will help you travel to and from the second appointment.
• If you choose to seek a further medical opinion, you are not eligible for travel assistance.

• Your doctor will provide you with the PTAS application form and complete Section A.
• Submit your completed form to your local PTAS Coordinator as soon as possible. This allows time for your application to be assessed before you make your bookings.
• It is important to note that submitting your application form does not mean you will be approved.

See instructions for applying

• If you need to travel urgently, please contact the PTAS Coordinator directly for approval and to organise travel arrangements.
• On your return, please complete the application form and submit it to the PTAS Coordinator together with your receipts.

Please lodge your claim to be repaid with all paperwork within four months of returning from your treatment.

We pay you by bank transfer. You can provide your details on your application form.

You should expect to receive your money within four weeks of lodging your receipts.