PATS is a subsidy program funded by the Government of South Australia

Through the Patient Assistance Transport Scheme (PATS), travel and accommodation subsidies are provided to assist South Australians who need to travel more than 100km each way to access necessary and approved medical specialist services that are not available locally.

From 1 July 2026, the transport subsidy will be expanded to include patients accessing renal or oncology care three times per week and travelling 50–100 km one way (i.e. minimum 300 km cumulative travel).

Learn about PATS

Am I eligible?

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PATS Changes on 1 July 2026

From 1 July 2026, the Patient Assistance transport Scheme (PATS) will deliver the following improvements for regional South Australians needing to access medical specialist services that are not available locally"

The accommodation subsidy for a patient will be increased to $110 per night.
The accommodation subsidy for a patient and authorised escort will be set to $154 per night. 
The transport subsidy will be expanded to include patients accessing renal or oncology care three times per week and travelling 50-100 km one way (i.e. 300 minimum cumulative traveled per week when calculated across eligible trips).

Questions? Visit our FAQ page

More support for regional patients brochure

Barry's story

Barry is a Riverland local - he's lived in Waikerie all his life.

An unexpected diagnosis left Barry and his wife facing a long round-trip to Adelaide each fortnight for specialist care.

"There was available finance for travel...knowing there is some money out there to support you - it helps."

What does PATS cover?

What is PATS?

PATS is a subsidy program funded by the Government of South Australia and administered through the six regional local health networks by the Rural Support Service in SA Health.

PATS can contribute to the cost of your accommodation and travel, including air travel authorised by your specialist if required.

Learn more about PATS

What is PATS?

PATS is a subsidy program funded by the Government of South Australia and administered through the six regional local health networks by the Rural Support Service in SA Health.

PATS can contribute to the cost of your accommodation and travel, including air travel authorised by your specialist if required.

Learn more about PATS

How do I make a claim?

The PATS online portal is quick and easy to use – login or register to make your claim.

Make sure you have an email address and your Medicare number handy.

Paper-based PATS forms are still available if you need them and can be accessed as PDFs for printing yourself.

About online claiming

How do I make a claim?

The PATS online portal is quick and easy to use – login or register to make your claim.

Make sure you have an email address and your Medicare number handy.

Paper-based PATS forms are still available if you need them and can be accessed as PDFs for printing yourself.

About online claiming

Latest Updates

June 30, 2026

Fuel subsidy update: 1 July 2026

From 1 July 2026, the PATS fuel subsidy rate will increase slightly — from $0.336 per kilometre to $0.344 per kilometre — for eligible travel to […]

September 29, 2025

PATS subsidies extended to support regional victim-survivors of sexual assault

As the state’s lead public health unit responding to adult rape and sexual assault, Yarrow Place Rape and Sexual Assault Service (operated by the Women’s and […]

Last updated August 2026

PATS Assessment Criteria Updates

Version	Date	Amendment	Amended by:
26.4	July 2026	Accommodation Payment Arrangement	PATS Governance Committee
26.3	June 2026	Accommodation and Cumulative travel	PATS Governance Committee
26.2	May 2026	Version Control Update	PATS Governance Committee
26.1	April 2026	Dental Guidelines Update	PATS Governance Committee
25.2	December 2025	Orthotics/Prosthetics Update	PATS Governance Committee
25.1	January 2025	Yarrow Place Inclusion	PATS Governance Committee

PATS Statistics

In the financial year 25/26, PATS received in excess of 64,000 claims for 22,100 patients

91% of claims were approved
Patients Travelled over 19,961,000 km
Average processing time for the last 6 months is 2.5 days