Travel subsidy rates looking healthier

A travel subsidy for patients who access essential health care away from their home communities has been increased to help vulnerable Queenslanders manage cost of living pressures.

The Government announced the recent state budget would fund the increase to the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS).

The PTSS provides financial assistance mostly to rural, remote and regional Queensland who have to access essential specialist health services not available within 50km of their closest public health facility.

The scheme assists with travel and accommodation expenses.

Subsidies also exist for air, bus, ferry or rail fares for eligible patients.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said all Queenslanders deserved access to health care, no matter where they lived.

“While we always aim to provide services for patients as close to their homes as possible, it’s inevitable that people will need to travel to larger centres for specialist care,” she said.

“The PTSS provides assistance to countless Queenslanders.

“Over 234,600 claims were made in 2021-22 alone, highlighting just how critical this scheme is for regional, rural and remote Queenslanders.

“We believe a 16 per cent increase in

Ph: (07) 4069 1586 the accommodation and escort subsidy and a 13 per cent rise in the mileage subsidy will make an enormous difference.

“We know it will take some of the stress off people who need to leave their communities for specialist medical care.”

She said the patient accommodation and escort subsidy would increase by $10 per person, per night to $70 per person, per night.

The fuel subsidy will rise by 4 cents per kilometre, taking it to 34 cents per kilometre.

The government also provided funding in relation to repatriation costs for deceased patients to their place of residence under the PTSS.

Thursday Island/Horn Island Ferry Timetable from 06/02/2023

J transfers include complimentary bus service on Thursday Island J

IMPORTANT NOTE: We will ALWAYS meet any QANTAS and Skytrans flight from Cairns – should extra services be scheduled (eg school holidays) we will add services that may be outside this schedule. For late flights – you MUST have a booking.