SECTION 4: INFORMATION YOU MIGHT NEED

The Queen Mary Hostel provides short-term hostel type accommodation for people who are patients at RPAH and their relatives who normally reside outside Sydney. The Queen Mary Hostel is in Grose Street, Camperdown behind King George V Hospital. The cost per night varies from time to time but is currently $27.20 a night per person. A maximum of two people from one family can stay at the Hostel. Bookings can be made with the Hostel Coordinator on (02) 9515 3086. There is other accommodation near the hospital which is more expensive. Please see the social worker if you want more information.

It is ABSOLUTELY VITAL that you have or get ambulance cover while you are on the waiting list. If you are on a Social Security Pension or Benefit you are already covered. You can check this with the Department of Social Security. If you have private health insurance, you are probably covered. You should check with your insurance company. If you have neither, you should obtain ambulance cover from a private health insurance company (eg: NIB or Medibank Private). It costs about $30 per person per year.

You are responsible for your own travel and accommodation expenses. However, if you live more than 200 kilometres away from the hospital, you may be entitled to a refund of part of your travel and accommodation expenses when you come to the hospital to see a doctor.

The Isolated Patients' Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS) was established 1970s to provide financial assistance to people in isolated and remote rural areas of Australia who needed to travel more than 200km to access specialist medical treatment. The Scheme was transferred to each of the States in 1987 and apart from some minor changes, the eligibility criteria and levels of support established by the Commonwealth were largely retained in New South Wales.

The target population for IPTAAS in New South Wales is defined as people living in isolated remote areas of the State who:

To be eligible for financial assistance individuals must be referred by their GP to the nearest specialist in a particular speciality and live at least 200km one-way from the nearest specialist. Assistance will not be granted where the medical service is available locally unless a valid medical reason is provided (Section A, Question 4).

Approval for air travel must be obtained prior to travel by the referring GP or treating specialist from the IPTAAS office located within the Area Health Service in which a person lives. Medical reasons are the primary reason for approval of air travel. For example, where the individual's medical condition would be exacerbated by any other form of transport. Certification of the need for air travel and/or upgraded travel arrangements should be provided by the referring practitioner or treating specialist (in Part 6 of Section A of the IPTAAS claim form).

Benefits of up to $30 per night are available towards commercial accommodation only, when overnight stays are required during a period of treatment.

Benefits may be paid in respect of an approved escort for patients who meet the conditions of eligibility for assistance under IPTAAS. Patients under 17 years of age are eligible for an escort. Where a patient is over 17 years of age, benefits for an escort will only be paid if the referring practitioner or treating specialist determines that it is medically necessary for an escort.

IPTAAS is not a full reimbursement scheme. A mandatory patient contribution fee of up to $40 is deducted from travel costs per claim. The mandatory contribution reflects the fact that other people living within the 200km limit also incur travelling, meal and accommodation expenses in accessing specialist medical treatment, especially where frequent access is required.

Veterans, war widows and their carers may be eligible for assistance with travel expenses for treatment through the Repatriation Transport Scheme (Department of Veterans Affairs). If a veteran or war widow has claimed travelling expenses under the Repatriation Transport Scheme, they cannot also claim financial assistance for travel or accommodation expenses under IPTAAS.

A veteran or war widow will not be considered eligible for assistance under IPTAAS unless they have checked their eligibility for assistance under the Repatriation Transport Scheme first. If a veteran or war widow is not eligible for any assistance under the Repatriation Transport Scheme, they may be eligible to claim financial assistance under IPTAAS. To accurately establish eligibility to claim financial assistance through IPTAAS, veterans, war widows or their carers should telephone the nearest IPTAAS office (contact below) before making a claim.

A review of IPTAAS was undertaken in 1998 and a discussion on the review was issued for community comment in January 1999. After extensive consultation with peak professional and community groups, the recommendations of the review have been finalised and submitted to the NSW Minister for Health for his consideration.

Claims for assistance under IPTAAS are processed by the Health Service in the area where the patient lives. People interested in the scheme should contact their nearest IPTAAS Office (see details below) to check their eligibility for financial assistance under IPTAAS before making travel arrangements.

An IPTAAS application form has three sections: one must be completed by the referred practitioner, another by the treating specialist and the other by the applicant. Application forms can be obtained from IPTAAS Offices as well as general practitioners, specialist and social work departments.

Claims for financial assistance under IPTAAS must be lodged within three months of treatment. Completed application forms should be sent to the nearest IPTAAS Office where the person permanently resides.

* People on the Mid North Coast who live outside the postcodes 2440 or 2443 - 2459 should contact Tamworth for those in the Lower North Coast and Lismore for those in the Macleay - Hastings region.

Visitors may park in the car park behind KGV Hospital for $5.00 per entry. A Temporary Parking Permit may be issued by the Parking Allocation Officer to resident patients and relatives. A charge of $15.00 per week (minimum period one week) will apply. A deposit of $20.00 (which is refundable) is required for a key card. Applications are processed at Transport Services between the hours of 7:30 am and 3:00 pm normal working days. Ask at the Enquiries counter of the Main Building for directions to the Transport Office.

If you are still working, you may need to plan now for the time when you are not working because of deteriorating health or while you are recovering from your transplant. You may be entitled to a Department of Social Security Benefit or Pension, especially if you have no other income. Your carer may be entitled to a Carers Pension. Please see the Social Worker if you have any questions about this.

Hospital charges

The Australian National Transplant Unit is funded by the New South Wales State Government. All your patient costs in hospital for the transplant admission are covered by this funding. You should not receive any bill associated with your liver transplant procedure. This applies to your hospital admissions for the transplant procedure +/- T-tube removal only. Once you are discharged, you will require ongoing drug prescriptions via the hospital Pharmacy. The Pharmacy will charge you the standard nominal charge associated with hospital prescriptions for an outpatient. If you require further hospitalisation after your transplant for whatever reason, you have the right to nominate your insurance category as you think most appropriate.

You may find information about liver transplantation on the Internet. This information may be of interest you. However, you should remember that most of it applies to the United States, Canada or Europe. The information included may not apply to Australia or the Australian National Liver Transplantation Unit in Sydney. Please check with your doctors about any questions you have about material you have found on the Internet.