Government Announces Major Enhancements to Medical Transportation Assistance and Improved Access to Health Care

Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-09-28 15:30:36.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Healthcare, Transportation, Affordability]

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, through the Department of Labrador Affairs and the Department of Health and Community services, announced major enhancements to the Medical Transportation Assistance Program (MTAP) and the Medical Transportation Supports Program (MeTS) effective for travel on or after September 1, 2026. The changes fulfill a Budget 2026 commitment to provide 100 per cent coverage of eligible transportation expenses and more than double MTAP's financial assistance budget. Key policy updates include increasing the private vehicle mileage rate to $0.35 per eligible kilometre, reimbursing all eligible kilometres once MTAP's 500-kilometre mileage threshold is met without excluding the first 500 kilometres, reducing the minimum travel distance for dialysis-related mileage assistance from 50 kilometres to 20 kilometres one way, and increasing private accommodation rates from $25 to $50 per eligible night. Additional measures involve aligning MeTS meal per diem rates with MTAP, eliminating the $400 annual household deductible for eligible in-province travel under MTAP, expanding access to specialized insured medical services sooner when local capacity permits, and introducing new online application and claim services.