Public Health Institutions Hiring Third Party Bill Collectors

Debated in Parliament on 3 Jul 2023.

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Ng Ling Ling inquired about the number of public health institutions using third-party bill collectors and the processes for referring patients in genuine hardship to medical social workers.
Ong Ye Kung responded that most public healthcare institutions use third-party collectors and that these collectors provide contact details for medical social workers when patients express repayment difficulties.
The process involves social workers assessing patients' eligibility for financial assistance, but specific numbers of institutions using collectors were not provided in the summary.
The debate highlighted the need for clear procedures to support patients facing financial hardship while managing public health bill collections.
No further details were shared on the scale of third-party collector usage or the effectiveness of the referral system.

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Ng Ling Ling

Ms Ng Ling Ling asked the Minister for Health (a) how many public health institutions (PHIs) hire third party bill collectors; and (b) whether there are established processes for these collectors to refer payment defaulting patients to the medical social workers of the PHIs when the patients are found to be in genuine hardship.

Ong Ye Kung

The majority of public healthcare institutions utilise third party bill collection services to follow up on outstanding bills. If a patient expresses difficulty in repayment, the collectors will provide the contact details of a medical social worker who can help to assess the patient's eligibility for financial assistance.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Ng Ling Ling inquired about the number of public health institutions using third-party bill collectors and the processes for referring patients in genuine hardship to medical social workers.
Ong Ye Kung responded that most public healthcare institutions use third-party collectors and that these collectors provide contact details for medical social workers when patients express repayment difficulties.
The process involves social workers assessing patients' eligibility for financial assistance, but specific numbers of institutions using collectors were not provided in the summary.
The debate highlighted the need for clear procedures to support patients facing financial hardship while managing public health bill collections.
No further details were shared on the scale of third-party collector usage or the effectiveness of the referral system.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Public Health Institutions Hiring Third Party Bill Collectors | PAPERCUTS

Public Health Institutions Hiring Third Party Bill Collectors

Debated in Parliament on 3 Jul 2023.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Ng Ling Ling inquired about the number of public health institutions using third-party bill collectors and the processes for referring patients in genuine hardship to medical social workers.
Ong Ye Kung responded that most public healthcare institutions use third-party collectors and that these collectors provide contact details for medical social workers when patients express repayment difficulties.
The process involves social workers assessing patients' eligibility for financial assistance, but specific numbers of institutions using collectors were not provided in the summary.
The debate highlighted the need for clear procedures to support patients facing financial hardship while managing public health bill collections.
No further details were shared on the scale of third-party collector usage or the effectiveness of the referral system.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Ng Ling Ling

Ong Ye Kung

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Ng Ling Ling inquired about the number of public health institutions using third-party bill collectors and the processes for referring patients in genuine hardship to medical social workers.
Ong Ye Kung responded that most public healthcare institutions use third-party collectors and that these collectors provide contact details for medical social workers when patients express repayment difficulties.
The process involves social workers assessing patients' eligibility for financial assistance, but specific numbers of institutions using collectors were not provided in the summary.
The debate highlighted the need for clear procedures to support patients facing financial hardship while managing public health bill collections.
No further details were shared on the scale of third-party collector usage or the effectiveness of the referral system.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Public Health Institutions Hiring Third Party Bill Collectors

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Ng Ling Ling

Ong Ye Kung

Summary

Questions Identified

Public Health Institutions Hiring Third Party Bill Collectors

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Ng Ling Ling

Ong Ye Kung

Summary

Questions Identified