Update to the Northern and Isolation Travel Assistance Outreach Program

The Northern and Isolation Travel Assistance Outreach Program (NITAOP) covers travel expenses and provides Travel Time Honorarium for physicians who visit eligible rural and isolated communities to provide medical services. While changes to the Travel Time Honorarium rates were originally made on April 1, 2024, they have since been reverted to the rates that were previously in place based upon physician feedback received by the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues (JSC).

What does this mean for previously processed claims?

Any physician claims that have already been processed will be re-adjudicated and retroactive payments will be made.

Next steps: Including the physician voice

The JSC is planning to conduct a more fulsome review of NITAOP, including the Travel Time Honorarium, to improve and modernize the program. This review will include physician engagement to ensure the physician voice is reflected, as well as broad stakeholder consultation.

Questions

If you have any questions, please contact View Email Addresshlth.ruralprograms@gov.bc.ca.