Debated in Parliament on 20 Oct 2022.
Miss Rachel Ong asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the average pricing for rehabilitative physiotherapy sessions before subsidy in organisations eligible for Government subsidies, for seniors above 60 years old; (b) what is the current percentage of seniors who have their fees subsidised for such services; (c) how many seniors discontinue rehabilitative physiotherapy sessions each year due to financial difficulties; and (d) of these seniors who discontinue such services due to financial difficulties, what is the percentage breakdown based on monthly household income per capita and annual value of residence.
The average pre-subsidy fee charged by community care organisations providing subsidised day rehabilitation services is around $95 per session. Seniors receiving rehabilitation services in the community can receive means-tested subsidies of up to 80%. In 2021, about 80% of seniors who received rehabilitation services in the community benefited from these subsidies.
MOH does not have data on the number of seniors who discontinued rehabilitation sessions due to financial difficulties. Nevertheless, seniors who face difficulties paying their rehabilitation bills may seek their healthcare provider’s assistance in applying for discretionary financial assistance, including MediFund assistance, for needy Singaporeans. This ensures that seniors can receive the care they require, regardless of their financial circumstances.
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