The changes to the state government’s Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS) will involve some increased reimbursement to people who need to travel to and stay in other areas for medical treatment.

However, the increases will not apply to not-for-profit accommodation providers such as the lodge, run by Cancer Care Western NSW, and there are fears it will not be able to compete with motels that have a higher subsidy.

Commercial accommodation such as motels will have the same per-night reimbursement as not-for-profits at $43 for single occupancy or $60 if staying with their escort for one to seven days.

However, commercial provider subsidies will increase to $80 single and $105 with escort for eight to 14 days, or $105 single and $120 with escort for 15 or more days, while the not-for-profit rate remains static.

The petrol subsidy will increase from 19 cents to 22 cents per kilometre.

Cancer Care Western NSW vice chairman Dr Stuart Porges said many not-for-profit providers had already closed in Sydney, increasing people’s chances of staying at commercial accommodation while receiving medical treatment.

However, he said there were still not-for-profit organisations in regional areas such as Orange, Lismore, Coffs Harbour, Albury and Wagga Wagga.

“We all feel we are being disadvantaged by this,” he said.

“It’s being implemented to help the people that have to go to Sydney for treatment that’s not available in regional areas, but it also applies to regional areas [such as Orange] as well.”

Dr Porges said the lodge had to charge people between $65 and $80 per night to keep it running, but they would only receive the blanket reimbursement rates regardless of the length of their stay.

“We were hoping IPTAAS would improve things and reduce that difference,” he said.

“It’s disadvantaging people who stay at Western Care Lodge.”

tanya.marschke@fairfaxmedia.com.au