Following various calls on the State Government to improve its Patient Assisted Travel Scheme, the initiative has officially been expanded to include specialist allied health and dental services.
Geraldton MLA Kirrilee Warr said the decision to expand the scheme was a win for Geraldton residents, yet more support was still needed.
Effective from July 1, the expansion will allow support for rural patients needing specialist care away from home by reducing the cost of accessing it.
The expansion is part of a $34 million investment from the State Government to improve regional health care.
Eligible country PATS patients can apply for subsidies to help with the cost associated with travel, accommodation and/or a support person when seeking specialist health care.
Ms Warr has previously expressed concern towards PATS and its reimbursement wait time, as many Mid West residents had been left out of pocket for up to three months.
She noted the expansion was still a welcome and necessary move.
“After much advocacy, and following cross party election commitments, it’s great to see the PATS expanded to include eligible allied health services,” she said.
“For too long, regional families have had to travel long distances to access essential care without the same support available for specialist appointments.”
Health Minister Meredith Hammat said WA was the biggest health jurisdiction in the world, with many residents living far from specialist services.
“We know how important it is for regional Western Australians to access healthcare when and where they need it,” she said.
“In 2025, we increased the fuel subsidy by 54 per cent, and we’ve continued to build on that with an increase of more than $15.5 million to expand PATS eligibility.”
Ms Warr said there were still elements missing from the scheme for regional WA, including Geraldton, as many residents needed access to adequate health care closer to home.
She said she continued to frequently receive queries from across the Mid West about health concerns and being unable to access services locally.
“I will continue to advocate for these matters to ensure they are delivered for the Geraldton community,” she said.
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