Local Journalism Initiative
Radha Agarwal / Local Journalism Initiative / Prince Rupert Northern View
Six new free ferry routes are now available to assist patients in remote and rural communities in reaching Prince Rupert for specialized medical services.
“Dealing with health-related matters can be stressful enough, without the added burden of extra travel costs.”
Mike Farnworth, Minister of Transportation and Transit
The Ministry of Health announced an addition to their existing Travel Assistance Program (TAP), effective Dec. 19. This program helps reduce transportation costs for eligible B.C. residents who need to travel within the province for non-emergency medical specialist services unavailable in their own local communities.
Until now, BC Ferries operated a service between Skidegate, Haida Gwaii, and Prince Rupert on the northwest coast. However, the service has been newly expanded to include round trips from Metlakatla, Oona River, Kitkatla, Hartley Bay, Tuck Inlet, and Dodge Cove to Prince Rupert.
“Dealing with health-related matters can be stressful enough, without the added burden of extra travel costs,” said Mike Farnworth, minister of Transportation and Transit.
Residents enrolled in the Medical Services Plan (MSP) can fill out a TAP form given by their physician, nurse practitioner, or specialized clinic referring them for a service requiring travel. Once they have completed their form and received a TAP confirmation number, they can use it when booking and presenting it at the terminal to claim the full discount.
“The expansion of the Travel Assistance Program will not just ease the financial burden of those who have to leave their communities in order to access specialist services, but also ensure that health-care equity increases across the province.”
Tamara Davidson, MLA for North Coast-Haida Gwaii
Patients can also obtain an escort if they are 18 years of age or younger or if they are unable to travel independently due to medical reasons.
“The expansion of the Travel Assistance Program will not just ease the financial burden of those who have to leave their communities in order to access specialist services, but also ensure that health-care equity increases across the province,” said Tamara Davidson, MLA for North Coast-Haida Gwaii.
However, travelling through TAP only covers referrals for services insured by the MSP, not those paid for privately by the patient. Eligible medical services encompass non-emergency services provided by specialists at the nearest location outside the patient’s community and diagnostic procedures, laboratory procedures, diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine procedures. It also covers services from the B.C. Cancer Agency, Transplant Units, HIV/AIDS treatment at St. Paul’s Hospital, and specialty clinics at B.C. Children’s Hospital, as well as other services from tertiary care hospitals.
If patients require a follow-up appointment, they must fill out another TAP form.
TAP is a corporate partnership between the Ministry of Health and private transportation carriers.
