02 November 2006

Minister for Health announces new ambulance fee scheme

Minister for Health John Hatzistergos and Member for Tweed, Neville Newell today announced a new payment structure for NSW pensioners using Queensland ambulance services.

Mr Hatzistergos said the Iemma Government will:

• Pay for NSW pensioners billed by the Queensland Ambulance Service for emergency ambulance transport.
• Seek to recover the full costs of transporting Queensland residents using NSW ambulance services (by removing the current subsidy for Queenslanders) from the Queensland government.

This decision follows advice from the Queensland Government that it will not rejoin the interstate ambulance reciprocal deal, which allows pensioners to access free ambulance cover.

"It's a real win for Neville Newell and pensioners living on the Tweed," Mr Hatzistergos said.

"This new direction will ensure that our pensioners are no longer hit with huge $863 bills from the Queensland Ambulance Service."

The new fee structure means NSW taxpayers will no longer subsidise Queensland residents for ambulance journeys in NSW.

Mr Hatzistergos made the announcement at Tweed Heads Ambulance Station today, where Mr Hatzistergos met with Mr Newell.

Mr Newell recently presented the Minister with a petition containing hundreds of signatures protesting the Queensland Ambulance Service's billing of NSW pensioners.

"The new fee system again offers a level playing field when it comes to interstate ambulance services."

Mr Hatzistergos said the new fee arrangements will also apply to NSW pensioners charged for using South Australian ambulance services. South Australia is the only other state that is not a party to the reciprocal arrangement.

From now on, pensioners who receive an ambulance bill from the Queensland or South Australian Ambulance Services should send it to the NSW Ambulance Service along with their pensioner details.

NSW pensioners who have already received an invoice from the Queensland Ambulance Service since July 1, 2006, are advised to have it paid by contacting the Ambulance Service of NSW for an exemption form.

The form and account should be forwarded to:
Revenue Accountant, Ambulance Service of NSW,
Locked Bag 14, Rozelle, NSW, 2039.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au