Chapter 22: Isolated Patients' Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTASS)

This scheme provides financial help through State Health Departments to people in rural areas, who need to travel more than 200 kilometres from their home to obtain specialist medical treatment, or services, or specialist oral surgery. Referral by a medical or dental (for oral surgery) practitioner to the nearest suitable specialist for treatment, is an essential part of the scheme.

NSW IPTASS is not a full reimbursement scheme.

Travel costs are normally based on economy rail/bus or private car from the patient's residence to the place of treatment and return, and is reimbursable. Travel other than by rail/bus or car (e.g. air travel) will require a medical certificate by the referring practitioner, stating that such travel is medically necessary or economy surface travel is impracticable or unreasonable. This should be arranged in advance with the local health area before travel is undertaken. Where a person chooses to travel by other than economy surface travel or private car, and such travel has not been certified in advance as medically necessary, reimbursement of travel costs will be based on economy surface transport.

Assistance for accommodation costs in relation to the actual visit will be:

• considered for in-transit commercial accommodation in cases of genuine medical need. The referring medical practitioner or treating specialist must certify why in-transit accommodation is required
• considered for commercial accommodation where limitation of transport schedules mean that the patient and/or escort needs to stay overnight prior to medical appointments or hospital admission and/or delay the commencement of the return journey
• available under NSW IPTASS towards accommodation costs where specialist medical treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis

Assistance towards commercial accommodation costs is paid on a per night per room basis for an amount up to either:

• $33 per night per single room
• $46 per night per double room

This includes commercial accommodation in a motel, hotel, hostel and/or caravan park. It does not include public/private hospital inpatient accommodation costs.

A private accommodation allowance of $30 per week is payable after the first week of private accommodation for patients who are pensioners and health care card holders only. If you wish to apply for the private accommodation allowance you will need to obtain a letter from your specialist certifying the dates of the treatment episode. This letter will need to be submitted with your completed IPTASS Form.

A $40 personal contribution will be deducted from each claim for each individual eligible under IPTASS.

Contact Phone Numbers

• Albury IPTASS (02) 6058 4455
• Bathurst IPTASS (02) 6339 5312
• Broken Hill IPTASS (02) 8080 1432
• Dubbo IPTASS (02) 6841 2264
• Goulburn IPTASS (02) 4823 7805
• Lismore IPTASS (02) 6620 2168
• Tamworth IPTASS (02) 6766 3946
• Taree IPTASS (02) 6592 9229

Download an IPTASS Form

www.health.nsw.gov.au (type in IPTASS in Search engine).

Further Information

To obtain further information on "Cleft Lip and Palate: A Parent's Guide", please contact Belinda Liston:

Belina Liston
Cleft Palate Clinic Coordinator
The Cleft Palate Clinic
The Children's Hospital at Westmead
Locked Bag 4001
WESTMEAD NSW 2145
AUSTRALIA
T: + 61 2 9845 2079
F: + 61 2 9845 2078
E: BelindaS4@chw.edu.au