Patients pitched increased travelling assistance

LEADER of the Opposition Matthew Guy pledged the creation of ten new jobs at the Department of Health office in Ballarat dedicated to improving the processing time for reimbursing patients using the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme.

Mr Guy made the announcement in Ballarat last week.

VPTAS provides financial assistance to Victorians who travel more than 100km one way, or 500km per week for specialist medical treatment.

Mr Guy said if elected he’ll increase VPTAS funding by $35.1 million to raise the reimbursement rate from 21 cents to 25 cents per kilometre and the nightly accommodation support from $45 to $60 per night.

“This policy is about ensuring regional Victorians can access the best healthcare and helping them with the cost of living pressures for travel and accommodation.”

Shadow Minister for Health Mary Wooldridge said currently it takes six to eight weeks for patients to be reimbursed for their travel costs.

“With the extra staff the claims will be processed in half the time,” said Ms Wooldridge.

“Every new job is important and these ten jobs for Ballarat are a small but important part of decentralising our State and supporting jobs in our regional cities.”

Breast cancer survivor Susie Relouw received assistance from VPTAS when travelling from her home town of Horsham to Ballarat and Melbourne for treatment.

Ms Relouw said she was very happy to hear about the increase in the reimbursement amount and a decrease in the processing time.

“When you’ve got cancer and you are travelling for treatment the last thing you want to be worried about it is money,” she said.