Extend Use of MediSave Funds for Patients Incurring Accident and Emergency Fees Arising from Referrals by Their Treating Physicians but Not Admitted to Hospitals

Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Health whether the use of MediSave funds may be extended to patients who incur Accident and Emergency fees arising from referrals made by their treating physicians to the Accident and Emergency Departments of hospitals but do not get admitted to the hospitals either directly or through the MediSave 500/700 Schemes.

The objective of MediSave is primarily to help Singaporeans with large medical bills due to hospitalisation and surgeries, after subsidies and MediShield Life. The MediSave500/700 scheme serves the secondary objective of helping patients pay for out-of-pocket expenses for the treatment of their chronic conditions. This is in view of the recurrent nature of their treatment.

In line with the above, A&E fees are claimable from MediSave if the patient is subsequently admitted. Patients who require basic investigations and services are charged a flat subsidised attendance fee at the A&E department. This ensures that processes at A&E departments are kept simple for hospitals to provide timely vital emergency services to patients.

Nevertheless, we understand that there are patients who visit their General Practitioners (GPs) and are subsequently referred to A&E departments for further treatment.

In light of this, we implemented the GPFirst programme, where patients referred to the A&E by participating GPs will receive a $50 subsidy on their A&E fees, in recognition of the charges incurred at the GP clinic. This is so that they do not bear additional costs compared to an individual who had gone straight to the A&E. This programme is currently in place at GP clinics around Changi General Hospital (CGH), Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH), National University Hospital (NUH), Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH), Sengkang General Hospital (SKH) and the Urgent Care Centre @Admiralty Medical Centre.