❓ Hon Martin Aldridge raises concerns about the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) eligibility criteria, particularly regarding flight delays and access to dental/allied health services. The Minister's response indicates flexibility within the existing scheme and defers further changes to cabinet consideration.
AnsweredQoN 1252Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PATIENT ASSISTED TRAVEL SCHEME — ELIGIBILITY
CRITERIA
1252. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the patient assisted
travel scheme and reports from the ABC on 14 June and 11 August that regional
residents are suffering health setbacks due to frequent flight delays.
(1) Is the
minister aware of concerns that the rigid eligibility criteria of PATS is
preventing residents from accessing earlier flights and accommodation to negate
these issues, and how does the state government intend to address this?
(2) Will the
state government commit to expanding PATS to make dental and allied health
services eligible, as recommended by the 2015 report by the Standing Committee
on Public Administration?
(3) If no to (2), why not?
(4) When will the state government
next review PATS eligibility criteria?
CRITERIA
1252. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the patient assisted
travel scheme and reports from the ABC on 14 June and 11 August that regional
residents are suffering health setbacks due to frequent flight delays.
(1) Is the
minister aware of concerns that the rigid eligibility criteria of PATS is
preventing residents from accessing earlier flights and accommodation to negate
these issues, and how does the state government intend to address this?
(2) Will the
state government commit to expanding PATS to make dental and allied health
services eligible, as recommended by the 2015 report by the Standing Committee
on Public Administration?
(3) If no to (2), why not?
(4) When will the state government
next review PATS eligibility criteria?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The patient
assisted travel scheme staff work closely with patients to identify the most
appropriate and timely transport option to meet the patient's
requirements in line with health and clinical needs. PATS supports flexibility in dates of travel;
accommodation subsidies are provided around an approved appointment as
per the closest and most appropriate transport schedule, and where reasonable
and possible there is consideration of flight reliability.
(2)–(3) Any
future policy and budget decision would be a matter for cabinet and the budget
process. As such, information would be considered cabinet-in-confidence.
(4) As review of PATS eligibility criteria relates to
policy and budget considerations, this would be considered cabinet-in-confidence.
some notice of the question.
(1) The patient
assisted travel scheme staff work closely with patients to identify the most
appropriate and timely transport option to meet the patient's
requirements in line with health and clinical needs. PATS supports flexibility in dates of travel;
accommodation subsidies are provided around an approved appointment as
per the closest and most appropriate transport schedule, and where reasonable
and possible there is consideration of flight reliability.
(2)–(3) Any
future policy and budget decision would be a matter for cabinet and the budget
process. As such, information would be considered cabinet-in-confidence.
(4) As review of PATS eligibility criteria relates to
policy and budget considerations, this would be considered cabinet-in-confidence.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.