Ensuring Good Governance at Private Clinic Groups
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the governance of private clinic groups and the regulation of medical claim payments by third-party administrators (TPAs). Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong inquired about preventing service disruptions and regulating TPA payments to ensure the financial viability of private clinics. Minister of State for Health Dr Lam Pin Min stated that the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act mandates 30 days' notice and patient record transfers before any clinic closure. He explained that TPA arrangements are private contracts without direct Ministry intervention, though the Singapore Medical Council provides ethical guidelines on fee arrangements. These guidelines prioritize patient well-being and clinical standards to ensure that healthcare quality is not compromised by financial or intermediary agreements.
Transcript
20 Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Health (a) what powers does the Ministry have to ensure good governance at private clinic groups to prevent the disruption of primary care services, and (b) whether the payment of medical claims by third party administrators to private clinics should be regulated to safeguard the financial viability of private clinics.
The Minister of State for Health (Dr Lam Pin Min) (for the Minister for Health): Mdm Speaker, under the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act (PHMCA), the Ministry regulates clinics to ensure that they provide a safe and good standard of care to their patients. This includes the continuity of care for patients.
Where a licensed operator intends to cease operating, or let, sell or in any way dispose of its medical clinic, it is required to notify the Ministry of Health (MOH) of its intention in writing not less than 30 days before he takes such an action. In order to ensure continuity of care for the clinic's patients, the operator must properly transfer its patients' medical information to another licensed clinic of the patients' choice.
Third Party Administrators (TPAs) provide a range of intermediary services to healthcare providers, such as helping them participate in employer medical benefit programmes, processing of medical claims and concierge services. These are private contractual arrangements between the TPA and healthcare providers which MOH does not directly intervene in. However, the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) has provided guidance to doctors on appropriate fee arrangements through its Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines (ECEG) that emphasise on the ethical practice and appropriate care so that the well-being of the patients will not be compromised.
1.30 pm
Mdm Speaker: Order. End of Question Time.
[Pursuant to Standing Order No 22(3), provided that Members had not asked for questions standing in their names to be postponed to a later Sitting day or withdrawn, written answers to questions not reached by the end of Question Time are reproduced in the Appendix.]