Community Hospitals Raise Fees.

[tom]

Community Hospitals raises fees. The Health Minister announced, coming July 2009, there will be changes in the " Mean Testing System " for Community Hospitals.

At the moment, there are three levels of subsidies. 25% discount for per capita family incomes between $801 to $1300. A 50 % discount to be given to family with per capita income between $331 to $800. Finally 75% discount for per capita income between $0 to $330.

From 1st July 2009, subsidy varies at 10 percentage point up to 75%. Based on 10% variation intervals, the Health Ministry said, " the new system will be fairer, making sure that even if the patient misses a particular income level, he only stand to lose only 10% of the total medical bill. 

In the old system if " MR A " family's per capita income is $330, he gets a discount of 75% and only pays 25% of his medical bill. If he gets another dollar for pay increase, he only entitles to a 50% discount.    How silly can this be in the old system.

[tom]

More subsidies @ community hospitals. More to benefit with new scheme.

New subsidy levels.

Total income based on family of four.

$1,440 and below.         Subsidy level for citizens 75 %
$1,441 to $2,200           .................................70 %
$2,201 to $3,000           .................................60 %
$3,001 to $3,800           .................................50 %
$3,801 to $4,600           .................................40 %
$4,601 to $5,200           .................................30 %
$5,201 to $5,400           .................................20 %
$5,401 to $5,600           .................................10 %

$5,600 and above          ..................................0 %

Come July 2009, patients can look forward to the change as given above.

[tom]

The government projected that by 2018, community hospitals beds need to increase from the present 673 beds to 1,290 beds, slightly over a 100 % jump. Time flies. Punggol is nearly eight years old since SM talked about Punggol 21 concept.

By 2030 the number of beds has to be further increased, to what extend, still nobody knows. One thing for sure, there will be  900,000 citizens age 65 and above.

It was reported that the elderly are very concerned and worried:- 

1. Everybody agrees that the General Hospitals are doing a wanderful job looking after the sick. People are not sure if the Community Hospitals or what PM called, " step-down-care can be equally competent.

2. Generally patients may feel that it is cheaper to stay in the General Hospitals than staying in the community hospitals. Reasons ? The two types of hospitals used different methods to decide on the patients ability to pay for their hospital bills. One using the patients personal income for mean testing, the other uses the patients total family income.  a bit confusing right 

3. 1st. the General Hospital, second, the Community Hospital, third going home ? where to ? Nursing Home or Day Care Centre or your own home ? It's going to be a problem that the authority need to address / or provide.

In the patient's home, where most children are working, who is going to look after the elderly sick / recuperating. If professional caregivers / nurses are needed, do Singapore had enough of them ? 

These problems may need a lot of time to solve. What about infrastructures ?