❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about patients in the Mining and Pastoral Region being delayed in Perth under the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) to access cheaper airfares. The response denies a policy requiring such delays and clarifies cost considerations.
AnsweredQoN 930Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PATIENT ASSISTED TRAVEL
SCHEME — MINING AND PASTORAL REGION
930. Hon JACQUI BOYDELL to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to claims by patients who
are constituents in the Mining and Pastoral Region that they are being detained
in Perth overnight awaiting cheaper airfares home under the patient assisted
travel scheme.
(1) Does the WA
Country Health Service apply a policy or guideline that requires patients to
remain in Perth longer than is required to access cheaper commercial airfares?
(2) If yes to (1), please table the
policy or guideline and advise the date of its effect?
(3) What is the
airfare cost cap that is applied to regional PATS flights?
(4) How does the WA Country Health Service consider
the high flight cost versus the additional accommodation costs borne by
patients required to stay overnight awaiting cheaper commercial airfares?
SCHEME — MINING AND PASTORAL REGION
930. Hon JACQUI BOYDELL to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to claims by patients who
are constituents in the Mining and Pastoral Region that they are being detained
in Perth overnight awaiting cheaper airfares home under the patient assisted
travel scheme.
(1) Does the WA
Country Health Service apply a policy or guideline that requires patients to
remain in Perth longer than is required to access cheaper commercial airfares?
(2) If yes to (1), please table the
policy or guideline and advise the date of its effect?
(3) What is the
airfare cost cap that is applied to regional PATS flights?
(4) How does the WA Country Health Service consider
the high flight cost versus the additional accommodation costs borne by
patients required to stay overnight awaiting cheaper commercial airfares?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. I am advised of the following.
(1) The patient
assisted travel scheme policy, or guideline, does not require patients to
remain in Perth longer than is required to access cheaper commercial airfares.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) No airfare
cost cap is applied to regional PATS flights; however, the cheapest flight of
the day of required travel is recommended.
(4) High flight cost is not considered in determining
a requirement for patients to stay in Perth to await cheaper airfares.
some notice of the question. I am advised of the following.
(1) The patient
assisted travel scheme policy, or guideline, does not require patients to
remain in Perth longer than is required to access cheaper commercial airfares.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) No airfare
cost cap is applied to regional PATS flights; however, the cheapest flight of
the day of required travel is recommended.
(4) High flight cost is not considered in determining
a requirement for patients to stay in Perth to await cheaper airfares.
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