DOYOUKNOWABOUTIPTAAS?
TheIsolatedPatientsTravelandAccommodationAssistanceScheme
“DoyouknowaboutIPTAAS?”
Byaskingthissimplequestion, medicalspecialists,GPs,practice nursesandreceptionstaffcanlet patientsknowfinancialassistanceis availabletohelpthemaccess specialistcarenotavailablelocally.
TheIsolatedPatientsTraveland AccommodationAssistanceScheme, knownasIPTAAS,helpsNSWresidents whoneedtotravelmorethan100km eachwaytoaccessspecialisthealth care,or200kmweeklytothesame medicalprovider
IntheMurrayregionofNSW, RadiationOncologistDrJohnathon Waketreatspatientswithawide rangeofcancers;includingheadand neck,brainandlung Patientsand carersoftentravelfromsurrounding areastoattendconsultationsand accesslife-savingoncology treatment
Financialsupportprovidedby IPTAASisanessentialpartofthe cancertreatmentpathwayforDr Wake’spatients
“IdiscussIPTAASwitheverynew patientwhoiseligible.We introduceourselvesandthenIask thequestion,‘Doyouknowabout IPTAAS?’
“Fortunately,manycancerpatients havebeenadvisedaboutIPTAAS(by theirGPorotherspecialist)and manyhavereceivedfinancial assistancebeforetheradiation oncologystage.
”Ifpatientsarrivewithout knowledgeofthefinancialsupport available,theAlburyWodonga RegionalCancerCentrehelpsthem applyforIPTAAS.
“Wehavepatientsupportofficers, nursepractitionersandasocial workerthatarewellversedinfilling inthepaperwork,”DrWakesaid. IPTAASplaysanimportantrolein supportingpatientsduringlong periodsofcancertreatment
“Cancertreatmentisalongroad Afterdiagnosisandoftensurgery, radiationtherapiesareonaverage 25to40treatmentsoverfourto eightweeks Manypatientswholive morethanonehourdriveawaywill stayinaccommodationinAlbury duringtheweekandgohomeforthe weekend,whichwerecommendfor theirwellbeing.TheyclaimIPTAAS subsidiesforaccommodationand fuelforeachtrip
“It’sahugeundertakingasit meanstimeawayfromtheirwork andfamilieswhilestayinginAlbury. Itiscriticalforthesepatientsto receiveIPTAAS,”DrWakesaid
Attheotherendofthestate, NorthernNSWresidentLilliForrest’s worldwasturnedupsidedownwhen shereceivedhercancerdiagnosisaveryraremelanomaontheirisof herlefteyethatneededimmediate treatment.
ItwastheheightoftheCOVID-19
pandemicandLillihadjust discoveredshewaspregnantwith hersecondchild.
Waitinguntilafterherbabywas bornwasnotanoptionand,dueto thenatureofthecancer,neither wasbeingtreatedlocally Lilli,wholivesnearLismore,received hercareinBrisbaneapproximately 200kilometresawayandsobegan monthsofnavigatingborder closures,medicalprocedures,travel andaccommodationand eventuallyherrecovery
ArayoflightinLilli’sjourneywas thesafearrivalofbabyLucinda whoherparentssayisalittleballof energyandjoy
AnotherturningpointforLilliand herfamilywasbeingabletoaccess IPTAAS.
“HavingtheIPTAASprogram meansthatyouhavelessfinancial burdenandyou’reabletogetthat treatmentassoonasyoucan,”Lilli said.
Forsomepatients,accessing financialsupportmeansthe differencebetweenseeking healthcare,orgoingwithout.Ifit wasn’tforIPTAAS,Iwouldn’tbe here”
Dr Johnathon Wake, Radiation Oncologist at Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre
Cancer patient and IPTAAS client Lilli Forrest from Northern NSW
AsfarasNoelineNichollsis concerned,it’sassimpleasthatwithoutthefinancialassistanceshe receivedthroughIPTAASshewould nothavesoughtspecialistmedical treatment.
IPTAAS
“Wherewelive,wetraveltoget food,petrolandmedical IfIdidn’t haveIPTAAS,Iwouldn’thavebeen abletodoallthemedicalthingsI neededtodo,”Noelinesaid NoelinelivesatPilligainremote NSW-athree-hourdrivefrom Tamworth Sheregularlyvisits AboriginalHealthWorkerJacob ShanleyatTamworthHospital’s HealthyDeadlyFootClinicto receiveessentialmedicalcare
Jacobandhiscolleagues regularlyhelppatientsaccess IPTAAStoensuretheyreceive essentialcareattheHealthyDeadly FootClinic.
“Oneofthebiggestbarrierswe findwithpeopleistransportand money.Alotofpeopleare comingtoseeusfromasfar awayasPilliga,MoreeandWee Waa,uptothreehoursaway. Ourhigh-riskfootclinicisthe closestservice,”Jacobsaid
JacobencouragesAboriginal patientstouseIPTAASfinancial assistancetoattendmedical appointments
“Thereisalotofpride,especially inourcommunity,aboutnotwanting totakehandouts,butifitisgoingto bethedifferencebetweengettingto anappointmentornot,Isayfillout theformandgettoyour appointment”
ArmidaleGPDrSalmaAliregularly refersherpatientstoIPTAASand she’sseenfirst-handthepositive impactsofthescheme.
“Ithelpsthemmakethedecision toseethespecialist Ittakesaway someofthefinancialburden”
DrAlispecialisesincarefor refugeesandculturallyand linguisticallydiverse(CALD) communities ShesaysIPTAAS addressesthehealthinequities facedbyregionalandCALDpatients.
“IPTAAShelpsthesevery vulnerablecommunities Ithelpsour regionalcommunityaccess healthcareinaneasierandquicker way”
DrAlisaidawarenessofIPTAAS isspreadingamongthecommunity “Bythetimethenextgenerationof refugeescomein,Iwon’tneedto
educatethem–theyarealready awareofIPTAAS!”
DrAlicreditstheincreased awarenessanduptakeofIPTAASto allofherteamsupportingtheir CALDpatients Receptionand nursingstaffassistpatientsin completingtheapplicationforms, lesseningtheloadonthisverybus regionalGP
IPTAASprovidesfinancial assistancetopeoplefromregional NSWtoaccessspecialistcare, approvedalliedhealthcareservices andnon-commercialclinicaltrials
Eligiblepatientsreceivea subsidyfortraveland accommodationcostsincluding privatevehicletravel(40centsper km),accommodation(ranging from$75-$120pernight),public transport(trains,buses,and ferries),taxis(includesridesharing likeUber)andairtravel(inspecial circumstancesandwithprior approval)
TolearnmoreabouthowIPTAAS canhelpyourpatientsvisitthe IPTAASwebsiteorcallyourlocal teamon1800478227.
Dr Salma Ali, General Practitioner at Armidale Medical Centre
IPTAAS client Noeline Nicholls and Aboriginal Health Worker Jacob Shanley