01/07/2025
Here is some helpful information on the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme.
Some frequently asked questions and answers relating to travelling for medical care and claiming the patient travel subsidy scheme.
● Do I need a concession card to claim the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme?
☆No - there is no income threshold or requirement to have a concession card
The subsidy is available to Qld residents who are required to travel at least 50kms from their closest hospital to another health facility for care they can not access locally.
•The guidelines state
- 2.1 Patients must meet all of the following criteria (and may be required to provide proof of eligibility):
•eligible for Medicare
•a permanent Queensland resident or •person of no fixed address or a •student living at a Queensland boarding school or university campus (refer to Section 2.3 Residence)
•required to travel more than 50 kilometres (one way) (from the public hospital or public health facility closest to their permanent address) to attend the nearest eligible specialist health service (refer to Section 2.15 Exceptions to the nearest specialist service criteria)
•have an eligible referral for an approved specialty (refer to Section 2.10 Eligible specialist services)
unable to use Telehealth (refer to Section 13. Definition of Terms).
Please note: The hospital and health service assessing the PTSS application will assess the clinical appropriateness for the appointment to be conducted via Telehealth. If a patient chooses to travel when telehealth is available and clinically appropriate, PTSS subsidies will not be provided.
●How do I apply?
☆The first step is to register for the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme- Form A can be completed and submitted online or in person or via email (Form B (travel referral) is required to be completed prior to travel to claim the subsidised travel and accommodation rather than a reimbursement.
- PTSS Online Form A https://share.google/saPIx7EcH66LMIgti
●I am seeing a private specialist in Brisbane can I claim PTSS?
☆ PTSS is available for patients accessing private health care who are unable to access the same care at their closest public health facility.
•The guidelines state-
Eligible patients who travel to private specialist services are eligible for a subsidy if a public or private specialist is not available within 50 kilometres from their nearest public hospital or public health facility. However, they are only entitled to a subsidy equivalent to the subsidy they would receive to travel to the closest public hospital or public health facility, or to the private service they are attending, whichever is the lesser amount.
The same rule applies to patients who are required to travel interstate (more than 50 kilometres from their nearest public hospital or public health facility to use specialist services not provided through the public health system anywhere in the state), they are only entitled to a subsidy equivalent to traveling to the nearest treatment.
●Can I claim PTSS for Allied Health services ?
☆ Some Allied Health services can be accessed via PTSS, you do require a specialist referral.
•The guidelines state-
2.10.1 Allied health services
Eligible patients who are accessing allied health services as an essential component of their treatment plan, and have been referred by a specialist, are eligible for a subsidy if all other eligibility criteria are met.
Allied health services include audiology, clinical psychology, nutrition/dietetics, occupational therapy, orthotics/prosthetics, physiotherapy, podiatry, psychology, social work, and speech pathology. Examples include, but are not limited to:
•a visit to an ocularist following eye removal
a visit to a prosthetic specialist following limb amputation
•audiology services related to cochlear implant
•occupational therapy for burns scar management
For more information you can read the guidelines here - https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/policies-standards/health-service-directives/patient-travel-subsidy-scheme/guideline-for-the-patient-travel-subsidy-scheme
Please share this information on your community groups and across socials media to help raise awareness.
