The Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS)
Queensland patient and carers guide to claiming accommodation subsidies
What is the PTSS?
The Queensland Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) subsidises the cost of travel and accommodation for residents of Queensland 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.
The PTSS supports residents of Queensland travelling to hospitals in Queensland and other States. Interstate patients travelling to hospitals in Queensland must apply to the scheme in their home State or Territory.
Eligibility Criteria
In Queensland the main eligibility criteria for PTSS is distance. Distance is calculated from the nearest local hospital (to the patient’s home address) to the location where specialist medical treatment takes place (see FAQ below).
People travelling more than 50km from their nearest hospital to the specialist medical care (one way)
Plus...
You also need to be a resident of Queensland.
You must be travelling to specialist medical or dental care that is not available closer to home.
Who decides if I am eligible to claim PTSS
Your medical specialist needs 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. The specialist or an authorised officer, such as a hospital social worker, practice manager, receptionist or nurse may sign your form.
Please ask your medical specialist or staff at the clinic to assist you with this process. You can also contact the PTSS Office directly for further information. Once your form is submitted to the PTSS 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:
Patients
Patients not admitted to hospital may be eligible to claim up to $70.00/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 $140.00/night.
Escorts
If you are an approved escort for a patient admitted to hospital you can claim an accommodation subsidy of up to $70.00/night.
When to contact MediStays?
If you are eligible to apply for PTSS, contact MediStays to book your accommodation and link us with your local PTSS Office. We can then arrange all payments with PTSS directly – peace of mind for you.
Can I apply for PTSS online?
Yes, visit the Qld Gov PTSS website to apply for PTSS online.
Other frequently asked questions
Yes, MediStay can bulk-bill PTSS for stays 7+ nights. Prior pre-approval of subsidy including the number of nights and amount must be made 7 days in advance of stay for MediStays to bulk-bill.
Please email contact@medistays.com.au or link us directly with your local PTSS office. We are always delighted to assist.
Every property on the MediStays website can be booked for your accommodation and PTSS claim.
No, PTSS entitles you to claim all accommodation costs, including one-night stays. However, you may need to pay for the first four (4) nights of every financial year (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 person can have more than one escort if they are under the age of 18 years, certain conditions apply.
Accommodation in private homes is covered by $10/night per person.
You must claim the subsidy for the state or territory where you live (not the location of your treating hospital).
As stated on the PTSS website, patients may not be eligible if they are:
- travelling on holidays or business and live in another state. This includes fly-in fly-out or temporary workers who are not permanent Queensland residents.
- eligible to claim assistance from a third party (e.g. WorkCover, Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Motor Accident Insurance Commission, or some NDIS packages and private health insurance). Partial PTSS subsidies may be approved if the third party financial assistance is less than the PTSS subsidy.
- seeing a general practitioner, or using general dental services or allied health services, except as part of specialist treatment
- transported, using urgent or non-urgent transport, arranged by Queensland Health e.g. emergency ambulance. (A subsidy may be approved for the return journey)
- seeking a second opinion without a medical referral to an eligible specialist service
- taking part in clinical trials and experimental procedures.
- overseas travel to access specialist services is not covered by PTSS.
Yes, only if your accommodation costs are more than the PTSS. For example, if a patient and escort stay together in accommodation at $160/night, they will pay $20 per night for accommodation. PTSS will subsidise $140/night (when the patient and escort are each subsidised $70/night).
You will need to pay the first four (4) nights in a financial year. A financial year is 1st July through to 30th June (following year). This 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. Where the escort holds a concession card but the escort does not, neither are eligible for a concession.
The first four-night 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.
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 accommodation subsidy in this situation.
Yes, you may be able to. If PTSS has approved your travel interstate, the PTSS may cover public transport costs from your nearest local hospital to the location of the treating specialist. Travel from the transport terminal to your residential address cannot be claimed.
Yes, the PTSS covers petrol costs. If you travel in a private car, you are eligible to claim 34 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 PTSS office directly for further information on 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) if you have any questions.
The website is here.
If you are eligible to apply for PTSS, please submit your signed form and MediStays tax invoice to the PTSS 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 PTSS and send you the link for the relevant PTSS 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, arrange payment directly with MediStays and your PTSS office.
Are you a patient or carer travelling for medical care?
Our Care Navigators can assist with accommodation and funding support.