Northern Patient Transportation Program (“NPTP”)
What is NPTP?
NPTP is the Northern Patient Transportation Program. It is a provincial government program of Manitoba Health and administered by the Northern Health Region (“NHR”) which subsidizes the travel costs of Northern residents to attend required medical appointments.
Who is covered by NPTP?
Eligible Manitoba residents living north of the 53rd parallel from the Manitoba Saskatchewan Border to Lake Winnipeg are covered. A Manitoba Health card or treaty status is a requirement for coverage. Treaty patients living off reserve or non-treaty patients living on reserve are covered by NPTP. On reserve treaty-status patients are covered by a Health Canada Medical Transportation program.
What is covered?
The NPTP program subsidizes medical transportation costs for eligible insured services not available in your home community. These include:
• Elective medical transportation via bus, car, train or air as determined by a physician based on the patient’s medical condition;
• Transportation costs for essential patient escorts for children and disabled adults may also be authorized (one escort per trip);
What is the process I need to follow for NPTP?
Your physician fills out a travel warrant request form which is sent to the NPTP Office prior to your travel. The NPTP office will give you a Verification Form which needs to be signed at your appointment in order to process the claim. If you are travelling by private vehicle, you are entitled to reimbursement from NPTP. The NPTP office will require one (1) gas receipt which can be the original or a photocopy and must be from outside your home community.
More details on the process are available by clicking this link – NPTP Brochure
Where do I get the claim forms?
You get the claim form from the NPTP Offices in these locations:
Flin Flon Office: Telephone: (204) 687-9638 or 1-800-290-1098 Option # 3
The Pas Office: Telephone: (204) 623—9212 or 1-800-290-1098 Option # 2
Thompson Office: Telephone: (204) 677-5337 or 1-800-290-1098 Option # 1
OR
NPTP Regional Manager April Rose, Telephone (204) 778-1512
Are there daily maximums or limits that apply to meals, hotel or transportation?
Yes. NPTP provides escort reimbursement up to these daily maximums:
- Hotel – $65.00 ($30.00 if staying in a private home)
- Food – $24.65
- Miscellaneous Transportation – $35.00 (taxi, parking or rental expense for local transportation)
- Gas – Equivalent to bus fare if you drove your car.
Is the $35 maximum for taxi per day or per trip?
That is a per day maximum amount with allowance for 2 days of appointments.
Why are NPTP rules different from Health Canada’s, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development’s (“DIAND”) or First Nations and Inuit Health Branch’s (“FNIHB”)?
Each program has its own policies and guidelines as is delivered by provincial or federal government departments. These rule differences can be a source of confusion for patients.
AIR OR LAND
Who chooses what mode of transportation I get to use for my medical appointment?
The medical provider makes a recommendation on mode of transportation. The NPTP staff reviews the recommendation for compliance with the NPTP Policy, based in part on information they receive from your doctor.
If my doctor says I can fly, will I get to fly?
If your doctor provides information demonstrating that you meet the medically necessary criteria for an NPTP warrant you will fly. However, if the medical information does not meet the NPTP criteria, then you will receive a land warrant.
Do you arrange for my flight if I am approved to fly?
Yes. We will make those flight arrangements for you.
If I get a land warrant, can I pay an upgrade and fly?
Please contact Calm Air for further information as the NRHA is not involved in that process.
I know someone who said you can pay the difference and fly? Is that true?
Please contact Calm Air for further information as the NRHA is not involved in that process.
If I pay for the upgrade, do you arrange the flights?
We only arrange flights when we determine it is medically necessary for you to fly. Flights on any other basis are between you and Calm Air.
Please contact Calm Air for further information as the NRHA is not involved in that process.
ESCORTS
I (or my family member) need an escort. How do I arrange that?
An escort is automatically authorized for patients under the age of 18 traveling for a medical appointment. In all other cases, the doctor needs to indicate that an escort is medically necessary and must provide information to support the medical reason(s) for the escort. Please note that emotional support, language barriers and patients of an elderly age are not considered medical reasons under the policy.
Is there a difference between what is covered for me and my escort? Why is that?
Under the program the patient is subsidized for point to point air or bus travel only. The escort is subsidized for travel, and the additional expense of meals and hotel, based on the policy guidelines for the program. We administer it based on those guidelines. Approval for escort travel must be prearranged.
The doctor checked off that we need an escort. Does that mean it is approved?
The doctor must provide information to support the medical reason(s) for the escort or it will not be approved. Please note that emotional support, language barriers and patient age are not considered medical reasons under the policy.
If I am approved to fly, will my escort also be allowed to fly?
Your escort will only be approved to fly if your doctor has provided the information indicating it is medically necessary for you the patient to fly and the information to support the medical need for an escort.
As a patient, I am allowed to pay the difference between my land warrant and a plane ticket to fly. Does the same apply for my escort?
If you are approved for a land warrant, and you are approved for an escort, we will include the escort on the patients warrant. In this case, Escort air travel is an issue between your Escort and Calm Air. Please contact Calm Air for further information as the NRHA is not involved in that process.
Will Calm Air accept a land warrant as cash towards a plane ticket?
That is something you would need to ask Calm Air. Please contact Calm Air for further information as the NRHA is not involved in that process.
What if I disagree with what NPTP tells me or decides?
If you have concerns that are not addressed with the NPTP office then please contact the NRHA Patient Experience and Public Involvement Office at (204) 687-9320 / toll-free 1-888-340-6742 or by email to patientexperience@nrha.ca
If you wish to appeal the decision made by NPTP, Manitoba Health has an appeal process. For more information call toll free at (866) 626-4862.