MEMBER for Ripon Louise Staley has pledged a funding increase worth $35.1 million to the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme.
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Ms Staley said that currently, patients who live in Ararat Rural City Council and surrounding region can be required to travel up to over 100 kilometres one way to access specialist treatment.
The funding would go towards raising reimbursement rates for accommodation and mileage, as well as speeding up the time taken to process claims.
Currently the scheme provides subsidies to rural patients of $45 per night for accommodation, and 21 cents per kilometre for travel if a private car is used for transportation.
However patients must pay the first $100 for transport and accommodation for each treatment year.
Ms Staley said that an elected Liberal Nationals Government would increase funding so that the nightly accommodation support will increase from $45 to $60 and the cents per kilometre reimbursement rate will rise from 21 cents to 25 cents.
She also said a Liberal Nationals Government would employ ten extra staff to be located in Ballarat to help patients through the system.
“Regional Victorians who are sick and need to travel long distances for life-saving treatment already have enough on their plate, with transport costs adding to the pressures of a skyrocketing cost-of-living,” she said.
“We can’t continue with the situation that has occurred under Daniel Andrews where some country patients are opting for less effective health treatments when costs make the travel for the best care unfeasible for them,” she said.
“We can’t continue with the situation that has occurred under Daniel Andrews where some country patients are opting for less effective health treatments when costs make the travel for the best care unfeasible for them,” Ms Staley said.
Health Minister Jill Hennessy responded to the pledge announcement.
“The Liberals are telling regional Victorians that under them, you’ll no longer be able to get the care you need close to home,” she said.
“They plan to cut health and hospital funding, forcing locals to travel hundreds of kilometres for specialist care.
“We take a different view. That’s why Labor is making record investments in health across Victoria, so that locals get the very best care – no matter where they live.”
