September 10, 2012
The State Government has announced that the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme will be doubled for Queenslanders living in rural and remote areas.
Premier Campbell Newman said the accommodation subsidy would increase from $30 to $60 per night per person and the mileage subsidy from 15 cents to 30 cents per kilometre.
“This is the first time since 1987 that the accommodation subsidy has been increased,” Mr Newman said.
“The previous Labor government increased the petrol mileage subsidy by just 5 cents per kilometre in 2007, but this increase truly helps patients who have to drive long distances.”
The scheme provides financial support for public and private patients to access specialist health services that are more than 50km away from their closest public hospital.
Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said the boost would help ease the financial burden and stress of travelling to access health services.
“This is part of this government’s commitment to revitalising frontline services,” he said.
