Chas clinics required to issue itemised bills from next year: MOH
CHAS decal seen on the front facade of a clinic. TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — From Jan 1 next year, all general practitioners and dental clinics under the Community Health Assist Scheme (Chas) must issue itemised bills to patients eligible for subsidies through the scheme, in light of complaints over costs.
Currently, some clinics do not provide itemised bills or only provide them upon request.
Announcing the change on Friday (Oct 28), the Health Ministry (MOH) added that it would also update the Chas subsidy guidelines for dental services from the same date, to define more clearly the types of dental services subsidised under the scheme and their claim limits.
This move is expected to enhance fee transparency, and to help patients better understand the treatments and subsidies they receive, the ministry said.
The Chas subsidies are open to eligible Singaporeans from lower- to middle-income households, and all Pioneer Generation members.
With the change, the clinics must at least show the total charges before the subsidy — broken down into charges for consultation, medication, investigation and other services — and the total subsidy given, as well as the amount payable by the patient. This applies to all medical bills, including those for individual dental procedures, and they must be given even to patients whose bills are fully subsidised.
For clinics under the scheme that are already doing this and more, they do not need to make any changes, the ministry said, adding that regular audits would be conducted to ensure compliance with the guidelines.
Dr Lam Pin Min, Minister of State for Health, said that improving the transparency of clinics’ charges and the subsidies would build greater trust between clinics and patients, and the ministry would continue to review Chas, taking into account feedback from patients and medical professionals, “to ensure that Singaporeans have access to affordable and quality primary care in the community”.
At the moment, there are about 1.3 million Singaporeans who can receive subsidies under Chas, at 1,600 designated clinics islandwide.
