The province is expanding its funding for travel to non-emergency medical appointments for those who live in remote communities.
Starting Thursday, free round-trip travel under the will be provided on seven additional privately managed ferry routes for those travelling to see a specialist, Health Minister Josie Osborne announced in Port Alberni on Thursday.
Those routes include:
• Tahsis and Kyuquot to Gold River
• Dodge Cove to Prince Rupert
• Lasqueti Island to French Creek
• Bamfield, Kildonan and Haggard͛ Cove to Port Alberni
• Ahousaht and Hot Springs Cove to Tofino
• Metlakatla, Oona River, Kitkatla and Hartley Bay to Prince Rupert
• Tuck Inlet to Prince Rupert, Aero Point (Lax Kw͛ alaams Ferry)͞
Although travel on sa国际传媒 Ferries has long been covered for people heading to medical appointments through the program, expanding coverage to privately managed ferry routes means more people living in rural, remote and First Nations communities will “benefit from much-needed help with their travel costs,” Osborne said.
To be eligible for assistance, patients have to be sa国际传媒 residents enrolled in the Medical Services Plan and have a referral from a physician or nurse practitioner for MSP- insured specialist medical services that are not available locally, and their travel expenses can’t already be covered by third-party insurance.
The referral has to be to the closest location for non-emergency medical specialist services , and can’t be to another general practitioner, or for services not insured by MSP.
Osborne pledged upon becoming health minister to pay more attention to the health care needs of rural and remote areas of the province.
• To learn more about the Travel Assistance Program, visit:
