18 December, 2017
The Ministry of Health ("MOH") will be providing benchmarks for professional fees early next year. Although doctors will not be compelled to follow the recommendations and can set their own fees, the benchmarks can inform patients of how much they are expected to pay, help doctors to decide reasonable fees, and inform insurers of the reasonable reimbursement rates.
Fee benchmarks are not a new phenomenon; the Singapore Medical Association had introduced fee guides in 1987 and had expanded them to cover 1,500 procedures. However, in April 2007, they were told that the fee guides contravened the Competition Act as it was seen as doctors giving themselves an indication of what they should be charging.
As a result, these new fee benchmarks were one of the recommendations proposed in the Health Insurance Task Force last year. It is also one part of MOH's three-pronged strategy to ensure people continue to receive quality and sustainable healthcare.
Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong, has expressed his hope that this strategy will help to manage the increasing healthcare costs, which are expected to rise exponentially due to expensive medical treatments, better access to healthcare, and an ageing population.
This move is widely welcomed as it will enhance the transparency of medical costs in Singapore
For more information, you can read the full articles here.
For further information, please contact:
Andy Leck, Principal, Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow
andy.leck@bakermckenzie.com
