Clause 11.4.6. Health Travel Costs

11.4.6

Health Travel Costs

11.4.6.1

Clause 11.4.6.2 applies to a person who-

(a)

is referred by a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner to a Secondary Health Service for medical treatment, assessment, or services; and

(b)

is not receiving assistance for travel or accommodation for that treatment, assessment, or services from any Health Agency (other than the Accident Compensation Corporation or an accredited employer or an insurer within the meaning of the Accident Insurance Act 1998); and

(c)

is not eligible for a disability allowance under the Act for that travel or accommodation.

11.4.6.2

MSD may-

(a)

make to a person referred to in clause 11.4.6.1, a non-recoverable Grant (subject to clause 11.4.6.4) of not more than $300 for-

(i)

the actual and reasonable travel expenses for a return journey of at least 8 kilometres to the place of treatment, assessment, or services; and

(ii)

the actual and reasonable cost of accommodation and meals if overnight stay away from home is necessary to attend the treatment, assessment, or services; and

(b)

extend that Grant to not more than a maximum of $400 for the cost of one attendant if-

(i)

the person needing the treatment, assessment, or services is a child, or

(ii)

whanau support is required, or

(iii)

an attendant is recommended by a medical practitioner.

11.4.6.3

MSD may make more than one such Grant in a 52 Week Period.

11.4.6.4

MSD may decide that a Grant under clause 11.4.6.2 is recoverable, if-

(a)

MSD considers that the person is likely to have cover under the Accident Compensation Act 2001 or the Accident Insurance Act 1998 in respect of the treatment, assessment or services; and

(b)

the Applicant is not able to show to the satisfaction of MSD that he or she has no entitlement to travel costs under the applicable Act.

11.4.6.5

For the purposes of clause 11.4.6.1-

"Secondary Health Service" means any personal health services (as defined in section 6 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000) provided or purchased by a Health Agency-

(a)

to which a medical practitioner or a nurse practitioner has referred the Applicant for treatment, assessment or a service; and

(c)

that is not solely for the supply of pharmaceutical goods.