Nearly 100,000 rural Queenslanders will save hundreds of dollars on accommodation when travelling to the big smoke for medical care.
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People who have to travel to access health care outside of their community will be subsidised from day one of treatment from August 1 under the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme.
The scheme is important for regional and remote residents who may not have the same hospital or specialist services available nearby and have to travel to a main health hub like Brisbane or Cairns.
Patients currently have to pay out of pocket for the first four nights before the $70 a night subsidy takes effect.
Now patients, their carer or family member will each receive the benefit from the first night away from home.
For a patient and their carer travelling from regional Queensland to Brisbane, they will save at least $560 on accommodation.
The Queensland government estimates 95,000 residents will benefit from the change.
"No one should have to worry about paying for accommodation, when they're forced to travel to receive healthcare," Premier Steven Miles said on Tuesday.
The announcement comes at a cost of $70.3 million over four years for the program's concessional benefits.
"We know cost of living is the number one issue for families and every little bit helps," Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said.
Rural health advocate Justine Christensen has been championing the change for years as the cost to sick Queenslanders who had to travel to a major health hub for treatment was huge.
"It's not travelled by choice. It's travelled by need," she said.
The change will put money back in the pockets of those who need it.
"It is the best thing that's ever happened to the Patient Travel Subsidy," she said.
The scheme is in place across states and territories with different subsidy benefits on offer.
It is $110 per night in Western Australia while NSW offers $75 for the first seven nights before it increases to $120.
Australian Associated Press
