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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 989 asked in the Legislative Council on 5 September 2019 by Hon Ken Baston

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

PATIENT ASSISTED TRAVEL SCHEME — ELIGIBLE TREATMENTS

989. Hon KEN BASTON to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Health:

I refer to the answer to question without notice 967, asked on 4 September 2019, about the patient assisted travel scheme available to permanent residents in WA Country Health Service regions.

(1) Will the minister please table the list of treatments, which, if required by residents in a WA Country Health Service region, are eligible for the PAT scheme?

(2) Can the minister confirm that the travel costs referred to in the answer include transfers that require the Royal Flying Doctor Service?

Hon ALANNA CLOHESY replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.

(1) Patients are eligible for the patient assisted travel scheme—PATS—when referred for medical specialist care that is not available in their community within the prescribed distances from home. The list of treatments for which patients are referred is extensive, and eligibility is assessed on access to medical specialists, not the required treatment.

Patients are entitled to apply for an exceptional ruling if their PATS application is declined and they would like the decision reviewed. Exceptional rulings consider the individual circumstances of the application and are granted if it is demonstrated that the intent of the PAT scheme is met, even though some of the parameters of PATS policy may not have been.

I table the document titled ''Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS): A Guide for Patients and Carers''.

[See paper 3003.]

(2) The Royal Flying Doctor Service and PATS have separate budgets. Transport options may vary depending on the individual circumstances of the patient. If the member can provide greater clarification, additional information will be provided.