Changes to the health funding policies mean some people may have difficulty travelling to specialist health services and meeting the costs of staying away from home for hospital or specialist treatment.

 

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is required to purchase transport and accommodation assistance to help people who have the most difficulty getting to specialist health and disability services. This assistance is available for children who are referred by a public hospital to Starship for frequent/long term personal health or disability treatment.

 

Transport and accommodation assistance relates to the patient (child) and one support person (a parent or caregiver). The following information outlines how Starship can help you to access that assistance.

 

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Are you Eligible?

• undergoing frequent/long term personal health or disability treatment,
• referred by an Auckland District Health Board specialist (ie. a specialist from your local hospital) to a Starship specialist,
• under the age of 16 years,
• and satisfy certain distance and frequency criteria in some regions (your Social Worker/T & A personnel will be able to explain)

In the first Instance...
Your child will be referred by a specialist at your local hospital for an assessment and/or treatment by a specialist at Starship. Staff at your local hospital will:

• determine eligibility for T & A Assistance
• ensure appropriate documentation is completed
• arrange transport & accommodation for the first visit to Starship

At Starship...
Your child will be assessed/treated by a Starship specialist who will make a decision as to whether there will be ongoing treatment. If a decision is made for ongoing treatment you will be referred to the Patient Travel Co-ordinator at Starship, who will:

• meet with you to discuss putting into place a plan for future travel and accommodation
• ensure all appropriate documentation has been processed
• help you to understand the details specific to your region’s policy

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