Parliament of Australia:Senate:Committees:Community Affairs Committee:Highway to health: better access for rural, regional and remote patients

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Highway to health: better access for rural, regional and remote patients

20 September 2007

View the report as a single document - (PDF 616KB)

View the report as separate downloadable parts:


Membership of the Committee	(PDF 21KB)

Recommendations	(PDF 21KB)

Chapter 1 - Introduction	(PDF 88KB)
Terms of Reference Conduct of the inquiry Background to the inquiry The Broader Context – Australia's health care system Health care and travel assistance Other forms of patient travel assistance Current arrangements – Patient assisted travel schemes (PATS) The call to improve the operation of Patient Assisted Travel Schemes Outline of the report Acknowledgements

Chapter 2 - Health service delivery: Regional, rural and remote Australia	(PDF 118KB)
Regional, rural, remote: demography Measures of health status in rural and remote areas Access to services Supply of hospital services Workforce shortages Diminishing services in regional, rural and remote areas An increasing demand for PATS Future pressures on PATS A changed operating environment Conclusion

Chapter 3 - Pats design and administration	(PDF 112KB)
The application process Complexity Inconsistent interpretation and application Acceptance of recommendations Eligibility issues Distance threshold Restrictions on referrals Type of transport Appeals processes Subsidy levels Motor vehicle rates Accommodation rates Subsidy of other costs Restrictions and co-payments Delays in reimbursements Conclusion

Chapter 4 - Patient support and cross border issues	(PDF 56KB)
Patient support Women and children Inconsistencies in the application of escort guidelines Improving access to escorts Conclusion Cross-border issues Differences across the States and Territories Interstate arrangements Patient choice and interstate treatment PATS and interstate travellers Conclusion

Chapter 5 - Special needs groups	(PDF 99KB)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Cultural safety Communication Escorts Transport infrastructure Accommodation Continuity of care No Shows Liaison A separate program for Indigenous Australians? Conclusion Ante-natal care Older people Patients with chronic illnesses

Chapter 6 - Improving and integrating services	(PDF 53KB)
The role of charities and not-for-profit organisations Conclusion Improving communication Awareness, marketing and promotion Conclusion Other related health initiatives E-health Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program (MSOAP)

Chapter 7 - Reforming patient assisted travel schemes	(PDF 107KB)
A National Approach National consistency and uniformity A case for national standards Monitoring and reporting Who should administer a national approach? Expanding PATS Ante-natal and post-natal care Allied health services and dental care Screening services Primary medical care Procedural and specialised services undertaken by GPs Clinical trials Other services An expanded scheme – government responses Funding A path to reform

Appendix 1 - List of public submissions and tabled documents authorised for publication by the Committee	(PDF 28KB)

Appendix 2 - Witnesses who appeared before the Committee at public hearings	(PDF 22KB)

For further information, contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone: +61 2 6277 3515

Fax: +61 2 6277 5829

Email: community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au