MEMBER for Murray Plains Peter Walsh is concerned the “failing” popular transport assistance scheme will be a victim of next month’s State Budget.
The Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS) covers some of the travel and accommodation costs incurred by rural Victorians when they must travel more than 100km one way for specialist medical treatment.
Mr Walsh said the system seemed to be “breaking down” and payments – which officially should be made within six to eight weeks – were now “dragging the chain badly” and he was aware of some people still waiting after seven months.
“The current payments are a pittance,” he said.
“You get 21 cents per kilometre for your private car. Even the Australian Tax Office allows claims of 72 cents.
“And $45 per night for accommodation wouldn’t even match a day’s parking costs anywhere in Melbourne, let alone a bed for the night.”
The scheme was widely used by many voters in the Murray Plains electorate who travel to Melbourne and other locations to receive specialist treatment.
Mr Walsh said he had spoken with other Nationals members around the state and the story was the same everywhere.
He said one constituent who reported contacting VPTAS about a lack of payment for a claim she had lodged was advised because of a different system introduced last year, claims were now processed in Melbourne.
“The constituent used to post her claim to a regional office, where it was acknowledged a few days later and paid within a week,” Mr Walsh said.
“This couple say they have had to postpone necessary treatment in Melbourne many times because of the travel and accommodation costs involved and not having the money to pay for them.
“Obtaining a specialist appointment is hard enough at the present time, but then having to fork out the upfront costs and be made to wait months to be reimbursed is just not good enough.
“It’s insulting and it’s confirmation regional Victorians are seen as second-class citizens.
“Rural and regional Victorians are already significantly disadvantaged in terms of access to health care.”
Mr Walsh called for Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas to immediately allocate the resources necessary to ensure applications were processed in a reasonable timeframe.
Full VPTAS details are available at www.health.vic.gov.au/rural-health/victorian-patient-transport-assistance-scheme-vptas
Ms Thomas was contacted for comment.
