Proportion of Patients Receiving Services from More Than One Medifund-approved Institution
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Ms Anthea Ong’s inquiry regarding the proportion of patients using multiple Medifund-approved institutions (MFIs) and the costs associated with assessing MediFund applications. Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong shared that nearly half of subsidised patients visit more than one MFI, while 1% receive MediFund assistance at multiple institutions, typically visiting two each. He explained that assessment costs are difficult to isolate from broader social work, but noted that Public Assistance recipients are currently exempt from further assessments at MFIs. The Ministry of Health is rolling out system enhancements to streamline applications and improve information sharing across institutions to benefit patients visiting multiple healthcare providers. These measures aim to simplify processes and improve coordination among the 149 MFIs spanning acute, community, and outpatient healthcare settings.
Transcript
15 Ms Anthea Ong asked the Minister for Health in each of the last three years (a) what proportion of patients receive services from more than one Medifund-approved institution (MFI); (b) what is the average number of different MFIs that patients receive services from; (c) what is the proportion of patients who applied for MediFund at more than one MFI; (d) for such patients, what is the average number of MFIs where MediFund applications are made; and (e) what are the costs incurred by MFIs to assess MediFund applications.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: There are currently 149 Medifund-approved institutions (MFI), spanning all healthcare settings including public acute and community hospitals, specialist outpatient clinics, polyclinics, and Government-subsidised nursing homes.
Over each of the last three years, close to half of subsidised patients received services at more than one MFI, most of whom visited two MFIs each year.
1% of subsidised patients received MediFund assistance at more than one MFI, most of whom received assistance at two MFIs each year.
Each MFI has an independent MediFund Committee, made up of representatives such as community leaders and professionals, to assess MediFund applications. They are typically supported by Medical Social Worker (MSWs) and other staff who help assess a patient's circumstances. Apart from assessing MediFund applications, MSWs also serve a wider group of patients and caregivers, such as extending social and emotional support and making referrals to other social services or assistance schemes. For this reason, MFIs are unable to determine specifically the cost of processing MediFund applications alone.
We periodically review MediFund processes to improve and streamline them where possible. For instance, needy patients on Public Assistance today do not need to undergo further MediFund assessment at MFIs. We are also in the midst of rolling out system enhancements, led by our MSWs, that will streamline the application process and improve information sharing. This will make it more convenient for MediFund patients who visit more than one institution.