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Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme reimbursement failures need to be addressed by Health Minister says Tim Bull

Tim Bull urges Health Minister to fix delays in reimbursement payments for the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme.

By news@gippsland - 20th March 2023 - Back to News

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, has called on the Health Minister to fix the failing Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS) payment reimbursements. "While our health system is in crisis, one element the government can fix quickly is VPTAS, which covers some of the travel and accommodation costs incurred by rural Victorians when they must travel more than 100 kilometres one way for specialist medical treatment."

Victoria's Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS) subsidizes travel and accommodation for specialist medical treatment and crucial during health crisis for rural Victorians

Delayed travel reimbursements

Mr Bull said, "It is widely used by a number of East Gippslanders who have to travel to Melbourne and other locations to receive the specialist treatment they require. Due to the out-of-pocket costs incurred, prompt turnaround in payment of 6-8 weeks is the guideline to ensure patients are not left short-changed for extended periods."

"However, this month I have received complaints from people who are only now being reimbursed for trips made as far back as August - seven months ago. This is a matter that has been raised before and the government has said it will address the issue, but it appears another case of it not having done what it said it would do, to the detriment of rural patients," Mr Bull said.

Reduce application backlog

Mr Bull added, "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 triple the benchmark time to be reimbursed is just not good enough."

"I would hope this government allocates the necessary resources to ensure these applications are processed in a reasonable timeframe. While we continue to see the bureaucracy grow and the Premier's personal office expand considerably since coming to office, we see areas that are important to taxpayers being ignored." Mr Bull concluded.

Pictures from Ambulance Victoria Facebook page.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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  Live4Life Gippsland youth Crews gathered at Allambee Camp for adventure, teamwork, confidence-building, and sharing mental health awareness ideas, supported by Baw Baw Shire Council.
• Darren Chester says Krauatungalung Walk project progresses after EGSC and GLAWAC meetings this week
  Federal MP Darren Chester says the Krauatungalung Walk project is back on track, with boardwalk works underway, Indigenous artworks planned, and completion aimed by Christmas to benefit locals and visitors.
• Melina Bath criticises Labor government, calling Myki's delayed tap-and-go rollout a "mythical unicorn," outdated and incompatible
  Victoria's long-promised tap-and-go public transport system has been delayed until 2028, leaving commuters, especially in regional areas, still reliant on outdated Myki cards and paper tickets
• Spring flows planned to support native fish migration and river health across West Gippsland
  West Gippsland CMA's Environmental Water team is planning Spring river flows to support native fish migration, enhance river health, and balance environmental care with community enjoyment of waterways.
• Martin Cameron says Labor fails on crime, wasting millions on machete bins instead of protecting Gippsland
  Crime in Latrobe has surged under Labor, with Moe incidents up 26% and retail theft 65%. Nationals' Martin Cameron says only their Safer Communities Plan will restore safety.
• Melina Bath says Indigenous burning and broad-scale fuel reduction are vital for proactive bushfire prevention
  Victoria’s fire season begins amid total bans, with experts warning mismanaged forests and inadequate fuel reduction under Labor leave communities exposed to devastating megafires.
• Melina Bath says after 11 years of Labor, Victoria’s public lands face neglect, higher risks, and degradation
  The Silver Review recommends abolishing VEAC, a $1.4 million taxpayer-funded bureaucracy, as Labor’s ineffective agency failed to improve land management or address bushfire and environmental risks.
• Danny O’Brien says Crime Statistics Agency figures reveal rising serious assaults and theft across Gippsland communities
  Crime is rising across Gippsland, with assaults, thefts, and burglaries increasing sharply, prompting Nationals’ Danny O’Brien to call for stronger police resourcing, law reforms, and preventative measures.
• Danny O’Brien says retail theft in Gippsland South has risen over 70 percent recently, threatening local businesses
  Retail theft in Gippsland has soared over 70%, hitting Wellington hardest, with Nationals MP Danny O’Brien calling for stronger law enforcement to protect small businesses from rising crime.
• Martin Cameron says new emergency services tax replaces fire levy, adding enormous pressure to struggling small businesses
  Latrobe Valley small businesses face soaring costs as Labor's new Emergency Services Tax replaces the Fire Services Levy, with Nationals warning it punishes regional communities and fuels insolvencies amid financial mismanagement.
• Danny O’Brien says South Gippsland Highway receives constant patch-ups instead of proper, long-term investment
  Danny O’Brien criticises South Gippsland Highway constant patch-ups, highlighting 169 maintenance tasks since July, calling for proper investment and long-term repairs instead of short-term, wasteful fixes by the Labor government.
• Danny O'Brien says reduced bonus helps some, but bungled energy policies and digital-only access hurt households
  The state's Power Saving Bonus has been cut from $250 to $100 and is now limited to concession card holders, leaving many Gippsland households without relief despite rising energy costs.