Policy Change Announced for Medical Transportation Assistance Program

The Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Labrador Affairs, today announced a change to the Medical Transportation Assistance Program (MTAP), effective May 29, 2023.

With these changes, all residents of the Labrador-Grenfell Health Zone are now entitled to the same rate for reimbursement of eligible expenses, such as airfare and accommodations, for travel to larger centres to access specialized insured medical services.

The policy change applies to all communities in the Labrador-Grenfell Health Zone, which comprises the area north of Bartlett’s Harbour and Englee on the Northern Peninsula and all of Labrador.

This program enhancement is an initial step in making medical transportation assistance more responsive to the needs of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. The Department of Labrador Affairs will improve medical transportation assistance by easing users of the financial and administrative burden and ensuring the program operates as effectively as possible.

On April 1, 2023, responsibility for MTAP and the Medical Transportation Program for Income Support Clients (ISMT) for all areas of the province was transferred to the Department of Labrador Affairs. Budget 2023 included an additional $1 million for program enhancements that would benefit users of the program. The assessment of policy standards, procedures, guidelines and forms is an ongoing process, and Labrador Affairs is considering other policy changes to bring forward.

For more information about the Medical Transportation Assistance Program, see the backgrounder below or call 1-877-475-2412.

Quotes
“This change in policy represents the first step in the commitment we made to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador to improve the system of medical transportation assistance. As we continue to review MTAP and explore ways we can make enhancements to the program, our goal is to ease the financial burden on individuals who have no choice but to travel long distances to receive specialized insured medical services.”
Honourable Lisa Dempster
Minister of Labrador Affairs
Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation

“Working with Labrador Affairs on behalf of my constituents to change the MTAP policy to include all residents living within the Labrador-Grenfell Health Zone has been a priority for me. The change makes good sense and will ease the financial burden for residents who have to travel for medical care. I will continue to work with the health zone to advance issues of importance for residents of the district of St. Barbe – L’Anse aux Meadows.”
Honourable Krista Lynn Howell
Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs and MHA for St. Barbe – L’Anse aux Meadows

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Medical Transportation Programs

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BACKGROUNDER

Medical Transportation Assistance Program

The Medical Transportation Assistance Program (MTAP) provides financial assistance to beneficiaries of the Medical Care Plan (MCP) who incur substantial out-of-pocket travel costs to access specialized insured medical services which are not available in their immediate area of residence and / or within the province/country.
An airfare and accommodation application assists patients with travel expenses such as economy flights, ferries, commercial ground transportation (buses, taxis), accommodations and meal per diem for each day of eligible accommodation for the patient and medically-required escort. Patients must travel in excess of 200 km one way to the nearest health care facility in order to quality.

For residents of the Labrador-Grenfell Health Zone, eligible expenses claimed in a 12-month period, such as airfare and accommodations, are reimbursed as follows:
• First $1,000 is reimbursed at 100 per cent;
• Next $3,000 is reimbursed at 50 per cent; and
• Expenses greater than $4,000 are reimbursed at 75 per cent.

For residents living in other areas of the Island portion of the province, eligible expenses claimed in a 12-month period are reimbursed as follows:
• $400 deductible on the first claim;
• The first $100 of eligible expenses in excess of $400 is reimbursed at 100 per cent;
• The next $3,000 is reimbursed at 50 per cent; and
• Any remaining eligible expenses in excess of $3,500 during the 12-month period are reimbursed at 75 per cent.

Complete information on medical transportation assistance, including how MTAP works, eligibility criteria, application and document requirements, can be accessed online.

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