PAPee: Means Testing For Dental Treatment Soon?!

[makapaaa]

Nov 21, 2009

Medisave allowed for dental surgery at private clinics: MOH

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In Wednesday's letter, 'Allow Medisave for private clinics', Dr Ng Yong Kheng suggested the use of Medisave at private dental clinics to reduce the waiting times for 'people who are suffering from toothache and gum infection'.
First, Medisave is allowed for dental surgical procedures. In fact, more Medisave claims take place in private clinics than in public institutions. We do not, however, allow Medisave usage for non-surgical dental outpatient treatment as Medisave contribution rates have not priced in the funding of such procedures. While Medisave cannot be used, these services are provided with heavy subsidy for the needy elderly through 180 private dental clinics under the Primary Care Partnership Scheme.
Second, such patients with 'toothache and gum infection' requiring urgent treatment are attended to promptly at any of our public dental clinics. They are not put on a waiting list. The recent feedback on long waiting times came from patients asking for non-emergency elective treatments, such as braces and dentures. As these are elective procedures, heavy (???) subsidy without means-testing inevitably leads to long queues. Nonetheless, we will do our best to shorten the waiting time.
Karen Tan (Ms)
Director, Corporate Communications
Ministry of Health

=> Costs cum out to the same as private treatment after 'subsidy'. Very heavy subsidy indeed! *ptui*

 

[makapaaa]

Nov 21, 2009

Allow Medisave use for preventive care, says dental body

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WE REFER to Dr Ng Yong Kheng's letter on Wednesday, 'Allow Medisave for private clinics'.
Dental disease is prevalent, preventable and affects everyone. A six-monthly check-up, dental radiographs and oral prophylaxis will do much to prevent and control both gum disease and tooth decay. It will also reduce the need for complex and specialist dental treatment, and perhaps shorten the waiting list at the source.
Using Medisave requires a balance of appropriate usage and accountability. It requires auditing, making it difficult to cover a plethora of dental treatment. Currently, the use of Medisave in private dental clinics is restricted to only oral surgical procedures.
We are recommending to at least extend Medisave use to include the preventive dental treatment procedures mentioned above.
Dr Lewis Lee Kim Chuan
President
Singapore Dental Association