Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS)
NSW patient and carers guide to claiming accommodation subsidies
What is IPTAAS?
The NSW Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme subsidises the cost of travel and accommodation for residents of New South Wales who need to travel long distances for specialist medical care.
Subsidies are provided to help cover the costs of staying in accommodation close to hospitals. Patients can also claim travel costs including private car and public transport costs.
IPTAAS supports residents of NSW travelling to hospitals in NSW and other States. Interstate patients travelling to hospitals in NSW must apply to the scheme in their home State.
Eligibility Criteria
In NSW, the main eligibility criteria for IPTAAS is distance. Distance is defined from the patient’s home address to the specialist medical facility (hospital or clinic). There are two distance eligibility criteria:
People travelling more than 100km from home to medical care (one way)
People travelling an average of 200km over a week for one or more weeks.
Plus...
You also need to be a permanent resident of New South Wales.
You must be travelling to specialist medical care that is not available closer to home.
Who decides if I am eligible to claim IPTAAS
Your GP and medical specialist need to confirm you are travelling for specialist medical care. The doctor must be approved to practice as a specialist under Medicare Australia and their details must be included on the form.
Please ask your GP, medical specialist or staff at the clinic to assist you with this process. You can also contact the IPTAAS Office directly for further information. Once your form is submitted to the IPTAAS Office, they will process your application and confirm your eligibility and reimbursements.
Please note, MediStays does not approve your application.
How much is the accommodation subsidy?
The subsidy varies depending on your situation. For stays of 1 – 7 nights:
Patients
Patients not admitted to hospital may be eligible to claim up to $75/night accommodation subsidy.
Patients travelling with an approved escort
Patients not admitted to hospital who are travelling with an approved escort may be eligible to claim up to $75/night.
Escorts
If you are an approved escort for a patient admitted to hospital you can claim an accommodation subsidy of up to $75/night.
The subsidy varies depending on your situation. For stays of 8+ nights:
Patients
Patients not admitted to hospital may be eligible to claim up to $120/night accommodation subsidy.
Patients travelling with an approved escort
Patients not admitted to hospital who are travelling with an approved escort may be eligible to claim up to $120/night.
Escorts
If you are an approved escort for a patient admitted to hospital you can claim an accommodation subsidy of up to $120/night.
Please note: IPTAAS does not subsidise the cost of GST.
All rates are per room/apartment per night (not per person)
Nights are cumulative over a 12-month period (financial year)
When to submit an IPTAAS application form
If you are eligible to apply for IPTAAS, post your hard copy, signed form and MediStays tax invoice to the IPTAAS office when your stay has finished.
Can I submit my claim online?
Yes, please visit the IPTAAS website for further information about submitting your application online. Simply register online and provide the required information (including your MediStays tax invoice).
Other frequently asked questions
Yes, MediStays can bulk-bill IPTAAS for stays 7+ nights.
Prior pre-approval of subsidy including the amount & number of nights must be made 7 days in advance of stay in order for MediStays to bulk-bill.
Please contact us to discuss this option prior to booking at contact@medistays.com.au or by calling our office on 1300 085 036 (office hours).
Every property is eligible when you book with MediStays. Simply browse our website for the property that meets your needs and submit your claim or contact us to bulk-bill.
No, IPTAAS entitles you to claim all accommodation costs, including one-night stays
As escort is a person approved to travel with the patient. This may include your husband or wife, carer, family member, friend or the parents of children under 18 years of age.
A person can have more than one escort if they are under the age of 18 years, certain conditions apply.
Accommodation in private homes is reimbursed at $40 per person per night (regardless of the number of nights)
You must claim the subsidy for the state or territory where you live (not the location of your treating hospital).
Participation in some clinical trials will deem patients’ ineligible to claim IPTAAS. Please discuss this with your medical specialist if unsure.
As stated on the IPTAAS website, in general, you will not be eligible to claim IPTAAS if you:
- participate in clinical trials or experimental treatments that are medical research studies that aim to find a better way to manage a particular disease
- live in states or territories other than NSW (unless they are a living organ donor to a NSW patient)
- are away from their permanent place of residence when the treatment episode begins, such as when on holidays or while visiting friends or family either within NSW or interstate
- are undertaking a journey to or from outside Australia for medical treatment
- are accessing allied health (for example, audiology, physiotherapy, podiatry, speech therapy)
- are accessing general practitioner (GP) services
- are eligible to claim assistance under another state or territory or from a registered benefit organisation including the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
- were injured in a motor vehicle accident and are covered by iCare NSW
- were injured at work and are covered by WorkSafe
- have received or claimed by way of compensation, damages or other payment in respect to the illness or injury being treated.
If your accommodation costs are more than the IPTAAS subsidy, you will need to pay some out of pocket expenses.
For example, if a patient and/or escort stay in accommodation at $140/night, they will pay $65/night (1-7 nights stay) or $20 per night (8 or more nights stay).
Co-payments are required by schemes in other States. For example, paying for the first four nights every year.
With IPTAAS, the good news is that no co-payment is required!
A treatment year is the same as a financial year (1 July to 30th June).
No, there are no concessions.
Yes, if you are an approved escort you are eligible to claim the accommodation subsidy. For example, you may drive your husband to the hospital and book accommodation with MediStays until he is discharged. You are eligible to claim $70/night (1-7 nights stay) and $120/night (8 or more nights stay).
If your husband has previously had 8 nights hospital stay and within the same financial year has to be re-admitted for another 5 nights stay or have outpatient treatment – the reimbursement will be the higher rate of $ 120 per night. Nights are cumulative over multiple stays (within a financial year)
Yes, IPTAAS covers public transport costs. Keep a copy of your tax invoices and record details of your journey (dates) on the form.
Yes, IPTAAS covers petrol costs. If you travel in a private car, you are eligible to claim 40 cents per kilometre. Google maps is used to calculate the distance from your home address to the hospital/clinic address. You do not need to provide tax invoices for petrol costs.
Please contact the IPTAAS office directly for further information:
Website | |||
Phone | 1800 478 227 | ||
Contact Details of All Offices | https://www.iptaas.health.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/353123/IPTAAS-Contact-Details.pdf | ||
If you are eligible to apply for IPTAAS, post your hard copy, signed form and MediStays tax invoice to the IPTAAS office when your stay has finished.
For long stays, you may also apply in advance or in regular intervals.
How MediStays can help…
Checking your eligibility after booking
When you book accommodation with MediStays, you can choose to tell us your postcode. This enables us to guide you on your eligibility for IPTAAS and send you the link for the relevant IPTAAS paperwork.
Which MediStays accommodation is eligible?
All properties listed on the MediStays website are eligible. Simply book on our website and submit your MediStays tax invoice with your application form or online claim.
Are you a patient or carer travelling for medical care?
Our Care Navigators can assist with accommodation and funding support.