Queenslanders needing to travel to access healthcare will no longer need to fund accommodation while away from home.
Currently, under the State Government’s Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) patients need to cover accommodation costs for first four days.
From August 1, this requirement will be abolished.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said the change comes in the wake of an administrative review into the scheme last year.
“Currently, people pay out-of-pocket for their first four nights of accommodation each financial year, unless they can access an exemption,” Minister Fentiman said.
“Queensland is a large and decentralised state, which means some people need to travel to access complex treatment, such as cardiology or oncology services, to ensure that they have the best chance of recovering and can receive the best possible quality of care.”
Minister Fentiman said the PTSS provided financial support to subsidise the costs of accommodation and transport for more than 95,000 Queenslanders each year.
The removal of the four-night rule comes after an additional $70.3 million was invested over four years to increase existing PTSS concession rates for accommodation and travel costs.
