Big portion of arrears eventually recovered: Health Ministry

We thank Mr Colin Ong for his letter "Size of patient debts not acceptable" (March 14).

We would like to clarify that the S$110 million reported by the media consists of arrears brought forward from prior years.

This also includes patients who are paying their outstanding bills by instalments, or are awaiting assessment for financial assistance by the hospitals.

A significant part of the arrears are eventually recovered or paid over time. But a portion will become bad debt and will have to be written off.

The total amount written off in FY2010 was S$37 million, equivalent to about 1 per cent of total hospitals' revenue for the same year.

This is still a sizeable amount and the ministry is working with our hospitals to see how we can further reduce such write-offs.

We share Mr Ong's concern over why some patients are unable to pay their bills, and would like to encourage those in difficulty to come forward and tap on the various schemes available to assist needy patients.

Patients can approach our medical social workers at the hospitals for further assistance. We are also mindful of the sustainability of our healthcare system and the importance of practising prudence in our spending.
Bey Mui Leng
Director, Corporate Communications, Ministry of Health
TODAY, 20 Mar 2012

Size of patient debts not acceptable

I READ with disappointment that Singapore's public "Hospitals left with S$110m in unpaid bills" (Feb 29), as of the end of last year. This amount is too large and unsustainable in the long run.

The Government must study the cause of patient debts. There could be several reasons, such as insufficient health insurance coverage, escalating health costs or an unexpected fall in family income because of the economy.

Taxpayers should get some answers as we are stakeholders in the efficient operations of public hospitals.
Colin Ong Tau Shien
TODAY, 14 Mar 2012

Hospitals left with S$110m in unpaid bills

by Sumita Sreedharan, TODAY, 29 Feb 2012

As of the end of last year, the total in arrears owed by patients in restructured hospitals was about S$110 million, including arrears accumulated from previous years.

A significant part of the arrears are eventually recovered or paid over time, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, in a written response to a question from Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Lina Chiam yesterday.

However, there is still bad debt written off each year.

The total amount written off in FY2008, FY2009 and FY2010 was S$27 million, S$26 million and S$37 million, respectively.

The S$110 million figure refers to arrears that exceeded two months and includes arrears brought forward from previous years.

It also includes patients who are paying their outstanding bills in instalments or are awaiting assessment for financial assistance from the hospitals.

The figure was S$75 million as at end-2008.

Mr Gan said that more than 96 per cent of the restructured hospital patients settle their bills within two months.

Last year, there were 136,000 bills outstanding for two months or more, translating to S$48 million in arrears. Eighty-three per cent of these outstanding bills were incurred by Singaporean patients.

As for how restructured hospitals go about collecting unpaid bills, Mr Gan said that the hospitals send patients a reminder if they do not settle their bills within a month.

Subsequently, patients are also reminded in the following months if necessary, by mail and telephone.

If there is still no response, some hospitals may refer the case to an authorised debt collection agency to collect the arrears on their behalf.

At any time, should a patient express problems paying his or her hospital bill, the hospital assesses the case and explores options for financial assistance, such as instalment payments or Medifund assistance.