The NSW Nationals and Liberals are calling on the State Government to increase funding for the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS), warning rising fuel costs could deter people from attending medical appointments.
The Coalition says cost‑of‑living pressures, particularly fuel prices, mean some regional patients may be forced to skip essential specialist care because they cannot afford the travel.
IPTAAS provides financial assistance for people who need to travel more than 100 kilometres one way, or more than 200 kilometres within a week, to access specialised medical treatment that is not available locally.
Under the scheme, patients currently receive a subsidy of 40 cents per kilometre, a rate the Coalition argues no longer reflects the real cost of travel for regional families.
Upper Hunter MP, Dave Layzell, says the scheme is vital for the region, and is urging the Government to urgently review and temporarily increase the kilometre rate as an immediate support measure.
