The Patient Travel Assistance Scheme (PTAS)
Tasmanian patient and carers guide to claiming accommodation subsidies for intrastate travel
What is PTAS?
The Tasmanian Patient Travel Assistance Scheme (PTAS) subsidises the cost of travel and accommodation for residents of Tasmania who need to travel for specialised 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.
PTAS supports residents of Tasmania travelling to hospitals in Tasmania and interstate. This guide explains support for travel within Tasmania.
If you are a Tasmanian patient travelling to hospital outside of Tasmania, please click here to find out more.
Eligibility Criteria
In Tasmania, the main eligibility criteria for PTAS is distance. For travel approval within Tasmania, the main criteria is people travelling:
75km (one way) or more to specialist medical care, OR
50km (one way) or more to the nearest cancer or dialysis centre.
Plus...
You also need to be a resident of Tasmania.
You must not be receiving financial assistance for accommodation costs from another organisation.
Who decides if I am eligible to claim PTAS
Your GP or medical specialist needs to confirm you are travelling for specialist medical care. The doctor must be approved to practice under Medicare Australia and their details must be included on the form.
Please ask your medical specialist or staff at the clinic to assist you with this process. You can also contact the PTAS Office directly for further information. Offices are located in Hobart, Launceston and Bernie.
Once your form is submitted to the PTAS 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 travel outside of Tasmania, please visit this page]
Patients
Patients not admitted to hospital may be eligible to claim up to $76.00/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 $76/night per person.
Escorts
If you are an approved escort for a patient admitted to hospital you can claim an accommodation subsidy of up to $76.00/night.
When to contact MediStays?
If you are eligible to apply for PTAS, contact MediStays to book your accommodation and link us with your local PTAS Office. We can then arrange all payments with PTAS directly – peace of mind for you.
Can I apply for PTAS online?
Please visit the Tasmanian PTAS website to find out more.
Other frequently asked questions
Yes, MediStays are delighted to arrange bulk-billing for your PTAS.
Please contact us to discuss this option prior to booking at contact@medistays.com.au or on 1300 085 036.
Every property on the MediStays website can be booked for your accommodation and PTAS claim.
No, PTAS entitles you to claim all accommodation costs, including one-night stays. However you may need to pay for the first two (2) nights accommodation per travel journey (unless you hold a concession card).
As escort is a person approved to travel with the patient. This may include your husband or wife or primary carer. The parents of children under 18 years of age and escorts for people with a disability receive automatic approval as escorts.
A baby under the age of six months is entitled to two escorts.
Accommodation is not subsidised for stays in private homes.
Interstate PTAS supports you for travel to another state outside of Tasmania. Please visit this page for further information about claiming PTAS for interstate travel.
As stated on the PTAS website, in general, you will not be eligible to claim PTAS 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 Tasmania
- 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 Tasmania 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
- Receiving Workcare or Motor Accidents payments
For example, if an escort stays in accommodation close to hospital at $150/night they will pay $74 per night for accommodation.
PTAS will subsidise the remaining $76 per night.
If both patient and escort stay in the accommodation at $150/night there will be no out of pocket cost* (subject to first two nights stay per journey)
You will need to pay the first two (2) nights per travel journey.
The fee is waived if you are a minor, or concession card holder for Veterans Affairs, Seniors Health Card, Centrelink Health Card or Pensioner Concession Card.
The two night fee per travel journey is waived if you are a concession card holder, or the child of a concession card holder
Eligible concession cards are:
- Services Australia Pensioner Concession Card
- Services Australia Health Care Card
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Concession Card
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 up to $76/night accommodation subsidy in this situation.
Yes, the PTAS covers the cost of petrol.
Yes, you can claim 24 cents per km for car travel.
Please contact the closest PTAS office directly for further information.
Royal Hobart Hospital
03 61668225
North West Regional Hospital
03 64777734
Launceston General Hospital
0367776249
lgh.patient.travel@ths.tas.gov.au
If you are eligible to apply for PTAS, please submit your forms and MediStays tax invoice to the PTAS 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 PTAS and send you the link for the relevant PTAS approval.
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. Alternatively, please contact us directly to arrange payment with your local PTAS office.
Are you a patient or carer travelling for medical care?
Our Care Navigators can assist with accommodation and funding support.
