The MediShield Life Scheme (Amendment) Bill will help cover Singaporeans more effectively in outpatient, community and home settings.
“The scheme will be able to cover care that is received entirely outside the premises of medical institutions and provides flexibility to cover newer care models that may develop,” said Senior Minister of State for Health Rahayu Mahzam about these changes.
For example, patients on home ventilation and breathing support services can now be covered under these changes. People with depression can benefit as well, with expanded support for outpatient treatments like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.
A clear, robust governance framework is also included to make sure that MediShield Life supports Ministry of Health-approved outpatient treatments. The framework requires that these treatments are both clinically- and cost-effective.
Here, medical institutions which do not comply with licensing conditions — such as when delivering their treatments improperly — will have their MediShield Life Ministry approvals revoked.
“This will strengthen the accountability of approved medical institutions and ensure compliance with the claim guidelines for MediShield Life,” said SMS Rahayu.
These changes are, on a macro scale, the PAP Government keeping our national healthcare system resilient and sustainable.
Our PAP MPs clarify the Bill
Sources: Yip Hon Weng, Ng Ling Ling, Wan Rizal / Facebook
Our PAP MPs asked questions to ensure that the Bill considered the needs of different Singaporeans.
MP Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang SMC) asked for transitional arrangements when medical institutions get suspended.
“This will allow patients sufficient time to make alternative arrangements and avoid disruptions to their treatment,” he said. “For many patients, especially seniors, the relationship with their healthcare provider is crucial in managing their health.”
“[MediShield Life] claims made by patients for services provided before the suspension or revocation will continue to be processed without issue,” said SMS Rahayu. “The Minister of Health can also permit claims for such treatment during the suspension or after the revocation, if necessary to safeguard the patient’s interests.”
Meanwhile, MP Ng Ling Ling (Ang Mo Kio GRC) brought up how her Jalan Kayu residents have spoken to her about the limits of Flexi-MediSave, especially for those with frequent specialist outpatient appointments. “I …hope that MOH can consider including Flexi medicine in the consideration of the deductibles that are currently calculated,” said MP Ng.
SMS Rahayu emphasised that the PAP Government has taken special care to support these and other vulnerable Singaporeans even while the price of healthcare increases worldwide.
“As announced by the Government earlier, premium increases will be capped at 35% which mostly benefits older age groups,” said SMS Rahayu. Older Singaporeans in lower-income households will also benefit from the means-tested premium subsidy enhancements that were recently announced.
MP Wan Rizal (Jalan Besar GRC) asked about a cause important to him — that Singaporeans get mental health support with these changes.
“We must consider how MediShield Life can responsibly support new health care, including mental health, while maintaining the scheme’s financial sustainability,” he said
“In general, the council prioritised treatments that had significant affordability gaps, were suitable for risk-pooling and cost-effective, and supported the shifting of care to lower cost settings. This includes expansion of coverage to repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, which is used to treat depression,” said SMS Rahayu.
In all, the expanded MediShield Life scheme is the PAP Government giving a boost to medical affordability for more Singaporeans who fall ill.
It is the PAP, in an era of an ageing Singaporean population and rising healthcare costs worldwide, keeping patient costs down and the national healthcare system resilient.
