Changes made to Northern Health Travel Grant (update)

Nipissing MPP Monique Smith
News Release

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Nipissing MPP Monique Smith celebrated today’s announcement by Premier McGuinty stating that the Ontario government is investing $8.6 million into the Northern Health Travel Grant Program. This additional funding will help accelerate the payment process by upgrading the processing system and increasing the mileage rate from 34.25 cents per kilometre to 41 cents per kilometre starting July 1, 2007.

“Since elected in 2003, I have heard from many constituents about their frustrations with the Northern Health Travel Grant Program and the need for a mileage rate increase,” Smith said. “Our government has listened to those concerns and has taken action today by ensuring that the residents of Nipissing and all Northern Ontario will receive a better allowance in a timely way.”

In addition to making it easier for northerners to access specialized health care by raising the reimbursement mileage rate and improving the processing system, Premier McGuinty also announced today that for the first time the government will provide financial support for an overnight accommodation allowance of up to $100 for each eligible patient trip, beginning October 1, 2007.

“Everyone should have access to high-quality health care — no matter where they live in this province,” said Premier McGuinty. “For northerners, that can mean travelling away from home to access some procedures — it’s only right that we provide fair compensation for the cost of receiving care in a timely manner.”

The Northern Health Travel Grant Program helps defray the transportation costs for residents of northern Ontario who travel long distances to access non-emergency, medical specialist services. Northern Ontario residents file over 155,000 applications for travel assistance every year. The program is part of the McGuinty government’s wait-time strategy, which is designed to improve access to five key health procedures.

Improving health travel grants is just one way the McGuinty government is moving forward to improve health services and reduce wait times for people in northern Ontario. Other initiatives include:

• Improved access to cardiac procedures for residents in northwestern Ontario with $2.8 million to provide angioplasty services for 550 patients every year

• Creating 29 Family Health Teams that have enrolled over 13,000 orphan patients in northern Ontario, and

• Investing $3.4 million to fund four new Community Health Centres and satellite CHCs recently announced for northern Ontario.

“We’re bringing down wait times, but numbers are just part of the story — what we’re really talking about is care for people,” said Premier McGuinty. “So we’ll continue working with northerners and all Ontarians to make universal public health care stronger so that it meets the needs of Ontarians today and for generations to come.”

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