DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

General Information
Telephone: (506) 453-2001
Fax: (506) 453-2154

1-833-SDDStel (733-7835)

MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION

Private Vehicle
This special benefit may be available to clients who require transportation for medical reasons and who travel by private vehicle, whether their own or another’s. May be paid:

  • in an emergency situation.
  • if frequent medical attention is required creating financial hardship.
  • if medical service is not available within 25 km.

If service is available within 25 km, only to be paid outside area if:

  • the client is referred outside region with documentation from physician indicating why the client cannot obtain service in region or
  • the client has had surgery outside region and is returning for checkup.

The most economical method of transportation must be paid if medical condition of client will permit. Regardless of the number of clients in a vehicle, payment is only made for one.

Payment is limited to 25 cents per km for all vehicles.

Required Documents:

  • For ongoing benefits – a report from physician stating diagnosis, transportation required, number of trips, and length of time needed.
  • If going outside the area for services available within area, documentation as to why client cannot obtain service in region.
  • Proof that the appointment was kept.

Public Transportation
This special benefit may be available to clients who require transportation for medical reasons and who use public transportation.

NOTE: This special benefit may also be selected to pay the Medical Transportation – Taxi benefit within a municipality according to the criteria etc. for that benefit. This is necessary as the regular taxi rate may not be based on a per km. amount.

May be paid:

  • in emergency situations.
  • if frequent medical attention is required, creating financial hardship.
  • medical service is not available within 25 km. If service is available within 25 km, only to be paid outside area if:
    • client is referred outside region with documentation from the physician as to why client cannot obtain service in region or
    • client has had surgery outside region and is returning for checkup.

The most economical method of transportation must be paid if medical condition of client will permit.

Guidelines to these payments

  • Bus/train
    • cover cost of fare.
  • Air transportation
    • use HopeAir (www.hopeair.org) or Air Canada’s Medical fare (if
      available in your region);
    • full fare paid only if no other options are available.

Required Documents:

  • Medical report completed by physician, stating diagnosis, transportation required, number of trips, and length of time needed
  • If going outside the area for services available within area, documentation as to why client cannot obtain service in region
  • Proof that the appointment was kept
  • Confirmation of cost – i.e. estimate, invoice or receipt

Taxi
This special benefit may be available to clients who require transportation for medical reasons and who use taxi. May be paid:

  • in emergency situations.
  • if frequent medical attention is required, creating financial hardship.
  • if medical service is not available within 25 km.

If service is available within 25 km, only to be paid outside area if:

  • the client is referred outside region with documentation from the physician indicating why the client cannot obtain service in region.
  • the client had surgery outside region and is returning for checkup.

The most economical method of transportation must be paid if medical condition of the client will permit. Regardless of the number of clients in a vehicle, payment is only made for one.

Payment is to a maximum of 43 cents per km (HST included) outside municipality. If within municipality where municipal taxi rates must be paid, choose Public Transportation.

Required Documents:

  • For ongoing
    • Medical Report, completed by the physician, stating diagnosis, transportation required, number of trips, and length of time needed.
  • If going outside the area for services available within area, documentation as to why the client cannot obtain service in region.
  • Proof that the appointment was kept.

Food & Shelter
This special benefit may be available to all clients who require food and shelter when making medical trips outside the region or province. The standard rate is $ 7 per meal up to a maximum of $21 per day per person, unless meals are provided by hospital. Where daily rates established by service providers (i.e., IWK) are higher, the service provider’s rate would be covered. If the client is staying in a housekeeping unit, the standard rate will be $8 per day per person for groceries instead of a meal allowance. Provision can be made for meals, at the same rate, for a person required to accompany the client and also for lodging (usually at a hostel) for the person accompanying the client.

Required Documents:

  • Written confirmation from the physician, stating diagnosis, transportation required, length of time needed
  • For accompaniment – a letter from the physician stating client cannot travel alone for medical reasons
  • Verbal confirmation from the supplier of accommodations including estimate of cost, followed up by invoice for payment
  • Proof that the appointment was kept

TREATMENT PROGRAM TRANSPORTATION

Private vehicle
This special benefit may be available to clients who require daily transportation to a pharmacy or clinic in order to receive a prescribed medication within a treatment program (i.e., Methadone Program) and who travel by private vehicle, whether their own or another’s. When the vehicle being used is not the client’s, the special benefit is still paid to the client as opposed to the owner of the vehicle.

Treatment Program Transportation Guidelines include:

  • Daily transportation benefits will be offered to clients for a maximum total of 18 months.
  • A maximum of $200 per month may be issued for this benefit.
  • The most economical means of available transportation must be used.
  • This benefit may only be provided if the dispensing pharmacy or clinic is greater than 2.4 kilometres from the client’s residence.
  • If monthly bus passes are being issued for the daily transportation, no extra coverage is to be issued.
  • Daily transportation benefits will be calculated based on the distance to the dispensing pharmacy that is closest to the client’s place of residence.

Guidelines to these payments:

  • Payment is limited to 20 cents per km for all vehicles.
  • Regardless of the number of clients in a vehicle, payment is only made for one.

Required documents:

  • Proof of daily attendance from the pharmacy or clinic every month.

Public transportation
This special benefit may be available to clients who require daily transportation to a pharmacy or clinic in order to receive a prescribed medication within a treatment program (i.e., Methadone Program) and who use public transportation.

NOTE: This special benefit may also be selected to pay the Treatment Program Transportation – Taxi benefit within a municipality according to the criteria for that benefit. This is necessary as the regular taxi rate may not be based on a per km amount.

Treatment Program Transportation Guidelines include:

  • Daily transportation benefits will be offered to clients for a maximum of 18 months.
  • A maximum of $200 per month may be issued for this benefit.
  • The most economical means of available transportation must be used.
  • This benefit may only be provided if the dispensing pharmacy or clinic is greater than 2.4 kilometres from the client’s residence.
  • If monthly bus passes are being issued for the daily transportation, no extra coverage is to be issued.
  • Daily transportation benefits will be calculated based on the distance to the dispensing pharmacy that is closest to the client’s place of residence.

Guidelines to these payments
Bus:

  • cover cost of fare.

Required documents:

  • Proof of daily attendance from the pharmacy or clinic every month.

Taxi
This special benefit may be available to clients who require daily transportation to a pharmacy or clinic in order to receive a prescribed medication within a treatment program (i.e., Methadone Program) and who use public transportation.

Treatment Program Transportation Guidelines include:

  • Daily transportation benefits will be offered to clients for a maximum of 18 months.
  • A maximum of $200 per month may be issued for this benefit.
  • The most economical means of available transportation must be used.
  • This benefit may only be provided if the dispensing pharmacy or clinic is greater than 2.4 kilometres from the client’s residence.
  • If monthly bus passes are being issued for the daily transportation, no extra coverage is to be issued.
  • Daily transportation benefits will be calculated based on the distance to the dispensing pharmacy that is closest to the client’s place of residence.

Guidelines to these payments:

  • Payment is to a maximum of 33 cents per km outside a municipality.
  • If within a municipality where municipal taxi rates must be paid, choose Public Transportation.
  • Regardless of the number of clients in a vehicle, payment is only made for one.

Required documents:

  • Proof of daily attendance from the pharmacy or clinic every month.
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