For patients | IPTAAS
A NSW Government website
IPTAAS
Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme
1800 IPTAAS
(1800 478 227)

For patients

The Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS), provides financial assistance towards travel and accommodation costs when you need to travel more than 100km one way or 200km within a week for specialised medical treatment that is not available locally.

What financial support is available?

Travel subsidies:

  • 40c per kilometre for private car travel
  • full reimbursement for public transport (minus GST)
  • full reimbursement for approved air travel (economy cost minus GST)
  • taxi and other ride-sharing services at the following variable rates:
    • 1 day appointment: maximum $20
    • 2 - 7-day appointment: maximum $40
    • 8 - 14-day appointment: maximum $80
    • 15 or more days appointment: maximum $160.

If you are required to travel by air, an air approval code is required before you fly. To get an air approval code your referring health professional, medical practitioner, health service or authorised representative must contact IPTAAS. If you do not get an air approval code the travel will be reimbursed at the private vehicle rate.

If you still need to claim for appointments prior 1 August 2022 view the travel rates that will apply.

Accommodation subsidies:

  • $40 per person per night if you are staying with family or friends (Airbnb will also be paid at this rate)
  • $75 per night if you are staying in not-for-profit or commercial accommodation for the first seven nights and $120 per night from day eight onwards.

Can I bulk bill my accommodation?

Bulk billing is when an accommodation facility invoices IPTAAS directly for your accommodation costs.

To determine if you are eligible for bulk billing your accommodation, written approval must be obtained from IPTAAS before you leave the accommodation facility.

Financial assistance is not available for public or private inpatient hospital accommodation costs.

Registered bulk bill accommodation providers

What type of treatment can I claim financial support for?

To be eligible for financial assistance through IPTAAS, you must receive treatment:

  • from a practitioner who is recognised by the Medical Board of Australia as a speciality service or in a field of specialty practice
  • from an approved prosthetist/orthotist
  • from an ocularist
  • from an AHPRA registered dental practitioner providing oral surgery in an operating theatre requiring general anaesthesia
  • for dental or orthodontic services associated with treatment of cleft lip and palate
  • at one of the approved allied health clinics, high- risk foot clinics, or oral health clinics
  • for a non-commercial clinical trial
  • for voluntary assisted dying services

Travelling with an escort

You can apply for additional financial support for an adult (escort) who travels and/or stays with you and provides you with support during treatment. Patients are entitled to one escort.

A patient is eligible for two escorts if they are:

  • An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person; or,
  • If they are a child and their health service provides written confirmation that their condition is life threatening.

An escort is eligible to apply for financial assistance from IPTAAS when:

  • they accompany a patient during travel
  • they travel separate to the patient because the patient is travelling by emergency transport
  • they travel separate to the patient, and the patient is a child
  • the patient passed away during treatment and the escort is making the return trip.

For further information about escort travel you can contact our team on 1800 478 227 and speak with one of our friendly staff members.


Patient resources

What forms do you need to complete?
A list of eligible IPTAAS services: Allied health clinics, High foot risk clinics, Oral health clinics
A list of travel and accommodation subsidy rates
What you need to know about applying for assistance
Read or listen to information about IPTAAS
What you need to know about applying for IPTAAS
You can contact us online, by phone or in person
Eligibility indicator for patients accessing IPTAAS services
Principles for assessment of IPTAAS claims
View factsheet for patients