- The Miles Government is removing the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme's four-night rule, saving Queenslanders travelling to access healthcare hundreds of dollars
- The change follows a review Minister Fentiman called into the scheme last year, to ensure it was correctly meeting the needs of Queenslanders
- This new cost-saving initiative highlights the Miles Government's commitment to removing barriers for Queenslanders accessing healthcare, no matter where they live.
The Miles Government is making it easier for Queenslanders living in regional, rural, and remote communities to access healthcare by expanding the support available under the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS).
From 1 August 2024, Queenslanders travelling to access healthcare under the PTSS won't have to pay for accommodation, in full, thanks to the removal of the four-night rule.
The good news comes after Minister Fentiman called an administrative review into the scheme last year, to ensure Queenslanders were able to access the healthcare they needed, no matter where they live.
Currently, people pay out-of-pocket for their first four nights of accommodation each financial year, unless they can access an exemption.
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.
The PTSS provides 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 the Queensland Government provided an additional $70.3 million over four years to increase the existing PTSS concession rates for accommodation and travel costs.
