A BC charity that advocates for equity in access to health care is working with the BC Government to broaden healthcare travel assistance.

BC Rural Health Network Executive Director Paul Adams says they have been working on improvements to the existing Travel Assistance Program (TAP) with BC’s Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health, Jennifer Rice.

Adams says the goal is to provide further support to charities like Hope Air, which offers free flights, accommodations, ground travel, and meals for people travelling for medical care.

“We’re big supporters of Hope Air and we’re big supporters of travel assistance; we want to see not only Hope Air, but any organization providing a charitable service to rural residents be funded appropriately so they can do more.”

Adams explains the Travel Assistance Program (TAP) is run through the Ministry of Health and provides vouchers for people who need to travel for post-diagnosis or non-emergency specialty services.

At issue with the TAP program currently, as Adams explains, is it’s “not very comprehensive,” it doesn’t provide individuals with the money upfront, and it is “quite limited” when it comes to airlines.

“If we can find those missing pieces, Hope Air doesn’t have a mechanism or the ability right now to be able to cover mileage, so if you’re driving to your appointment, that’s not something that falls within their purview, but we see that as being a necessary piece for people as well.”

While Adams says there are reimbursement opportunities for those costs through taxes for low-income people putting out-of-pocket expenses into medical transportation, he says that doesn’t help people in that moment.

“If you’re waiting for a tax return, the bureaucratic process can take a long time for everything to come to fruition, so we see a need for enhancement of services where people can receive funds to travel rather than reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses.”

Starting in August, the BC Rural Health Network will begin an outreach project with Hope Air, in an effort to promote its services in British Columbia.