New subsidy framework for community hospital patients from July 1
SINGAPORE: More patients staying in community hospitals will
benefit from an enhanced subsidy framework that takes effect from July
1.
The Health Ministry (MOH) estimates that half the patients in
community hospitals will benefit from the enhanced subsidy framework.
Previously, only patients with a total family income of less than S$5,200 a month would be eligible.
But come July, the new framework will include those whose total family income amounts to S$5,600 or less.
The new scheme also replaces the current framework with four income
tiers and incremental subsidies of 25-percentage points between one
tier and the next, i.e. 75 per cent, 50 per cent, 25 per cent and zero
per cent.
Instead, there will be nine income tiers instead -- starting at 75
per cent subsidy and falling by ten per cent per tier till zero.
Permanent residents will receive a subsidy of 10-percentage points less.
MOH says no patient will be adversely affected by the change.
Under the new framework, patients at community hospitals can look
forward to increased subsidies of up to several hundred dollars per
hospitalisation. The enhanced scheme will raise the Health Ministry's
subsidies to community hospital patients by another S$4 million to some
S$30 million a year.
MOH adds that it will continue to work with community hospitals to
ensure patients transit smoothly from restructured hospitals and
receive the most appropriate care in a cost-effective manner at
community hospitals.
- CNA/yt