USE OF MEDISAVE ACCOUNT FOR TREATMENT AT PUBLIC HOSPITAL FIRST ATTENDED

Recently, during MPS, I came across a case of a resident who was rushed to NTFGH after suffering a stroke. She was then transported to and warded at NUH for treatment which was not available at NTFGH.. Later, she received a $700 bill from NTFGH which was raised on the basis that she was an outpatient there. This meant that she did not get the Medisave coverage that she would get as an inpatient. I felt that this was not right since the reason why she was transferred to and admitted at NUH was because treatment was not available. Hence, I raised a query with the Minister for Health regarding the flexibility of MediSave usage across various public hospitals. I wanted to know whether patients could use their MediSave for treatments begun in one public hospital but completed in another due to specialized needs. I was glad to note from Minister Ong’s answer that, indeed, Medisave can be used in such circumstances. I therefore sent a petition on behalf my resident to MOH to review the bill that she received (without Medisave deduction). My PQ and his answer are set out below.

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Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Health whether the current rules allow patients to use their MediSave Account for treatment received at the public hospital where they first attended, even though they were subsequently referred to and warded at another hospital on the basis that this hospital has the expertise and facilities to treat the patient’s medical condition.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: Currently, MediSave can be used for treatment expenses incurred at any MediSave-accredited hospital, even if the patient is subsequently transferred to another hospital. Such instances will be treated as a single episode for which the relevant MediSave and MediShield Life claim limits apply.