Health travel grants doubled

by Ken Johnston
Editor

Reimbursements to Northern Ontario residents for travel expenses will increase significantly with the introduction of enhancements to the Northern Health Travel Grant (NHTG) program, Health and Long-Term Care Minister Tony Clement and Northern Development and Mines Minister Dan Newman announced. The enhancements will be in effect on November 1.

“The improvements made to the Northern Health Travel Grant program exemplify our government’s continued commitment to provide quality health care to every person in Ontario,” Clement said.

“Our government recognizes the unique needs of residents in the North,” Newman said. “The enhanced Northern Health Travel Grant will help ensure northerners can access the quality health care they deserve.”

This announcement makes the Ontario NHTG program one of the most generous of its kind in Canada. Most residents who travel more than 100 kilometres from their community for specialist-medical services will be reimbursed more than double the amount provided previously.

Residents who live in the districts of Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Muskoka, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timiskaming are all eligible for the NHTG program.

While the Ontario Government works to bring quality health care closer to home for all northerners, the NHTG will continue to help defray travel expenses for northerners who must travel long distances for medically necessary treatment and care.The Northern Health Travel Grant (NHTG) was established in December 1985. The purpose of the program is to help defray some of the travel costs for residents of Northern Ontario who must travel long distances for specialized medical care.

Qualifying for the Grant

For purposes of the NHTG, a northern resident is a person who lives in Northern Ontario which is defined as the districts of Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Muskoka, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timiskaming.

Referrals to the nearest medical specialist or designated health facility in Ontario or Manitoba for non-emergency care must be made by a northern doctor, dentist, midwife, nurse practitioner, optometrist or chiropractor for non-emergency care prior to travel.

From Thunder Bay to Toronto the reimbursement will now be $941.88 up from $419.38 previously.