As a result of a recent cyberattack on healthcare systems in the province, a number of appointments for services were rescheduled. Given a number of individuals had traveled for medical procedures prior to these cancellations, the Provincial Government today announced it will provide reimbursement to patients who traveled to attend one or more scheduled specialist medical appointments that were cancelled.
Patients who had started travel before November 2, 2021 and were unable to attend all medical appointments due to cancellations from the IT outage are eligible for complete reimbursement for medical travel costs as prescribed by the Medical Transportation Assistance Program (MTAP) policy. Reimbursement rates are as follows:
- Flight costs for patient escort, if applicable – 100 percent reimbursement (receipts required);
- Scheduled transportation, e.g. ferries, buses – 100 per cent reimbursement (receipts required);
- Taxis/car rental when applicable, as per policy – 100 per cent reimbursement (receipts required);
- Private vehicle – $0.20 per kilometer;
- Purchased accommodations – up to a $125 nightly per diem (receipts required);
- Private accommodations – $25 nightly per diem;
- Meals – $29 daily per diem for each patient and escort, if applicable.
No portion of a Labrador resident’s $1,000 allowance will be applied against their reimbursement for costs incurred above. For example, if a patient flew from Labrador and the flight cost $800 and it was their first trip in a 12-month period, the client will be reimbursed $800, and $1,000 allowance will remain and be applied towards the next approved medical trip.
Claims must be submitted with the required supporting documentation and official receipts for allowable expenses via email to mtap@gov.nl.ca or regular mail to:
Medical Transportation Assistance Program
Department of Health and Community Services
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
P.O. Box 8700 St. John’s, NL
A1B 4J6
For more information about the Medical Transportation Assistance Program, call 1-877-475-2412.
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“The recent cyberattack on our healthcare system caused a number of procedures to be rescheduled, and negatively impacted patients who had already traveled for their appointments. We committed to reviewing the situation, and I am very pleased that reimbursements are now available under our Medical Transportation Assistance Program.”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Health and Community Services
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Lesley Clarke
Health and Community Services
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lesleyclarke@gov.nl.ca