Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP)

FAQs on Medisave for CDMP

  1. What is the Medisave for Chronic Diseases Management Programme about?
    • Ans: The Health Ministry aims to bring about better health outcomes, lower long term healthcare costs for chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, lipid disorders and stroke. The programme consists of structured treatments that are based on clinical guidelines and medical evidence.
  2. Why are other chronic diseases not included in the programme?
    • Ans: The Health Ministry is starting with programmes for diabetes, high blood pressure, lipid disorders (eg. high cholesterol) and stroke which affect about 1 million Singaporeans. These diseases often result in complications like heart disease, kidney failure and leg amputations. When these 4 diseases are successfully implemented, the Health Ministry may consider adding more diseases in future. Asthma and COPD have been added to this programme since April 2008.
  3. When I see my doctor previously, I only need to take medications. In order to use Medisave, it looks like I now need to pay more.
    • Ans: It is possible that you may now need to pay more. However, the long term cost is likely to be lower as you now receive better care and complications may be prevented or treated early.
  4. How much can I claim from Medisave?
    • Ans: There is a ceiling of $300 per medisave account. Eg. If you have 2 children who are paying your package thru medisave, then you will have $600.00. You can claim up to a maximum of 10 accounts. The formula is 85% of (package price - $30.00). Similarly if a child has 2 parents on the programme, he/she can only use $300 from his/her account for both parents.
  5. What does Medisave cover?
    • Ans: Medisave covers consultations, drugs and medications, laboratory and diagnostic tests eg. Eye and foot screening.
  6. Why do I still have to pay the deductible plus 15% of the bill when I use Medisave?
    • Ans: The $30 deductible and 15% co-payment prevents a person’s Medisave from being prematurely depleted through unnecessary outpatient treatments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on CDMP package
  1. Why the price difference compared with CDMP package and previously seeing your doctors?
    • Ans: In order to use Medisave for CDMP claim, MOH requires you to agree to a panel of tests. This will very likely increase your cost. We therefore have come up with a different pricing mechanism to make all efforts to reduce your burden. This new pricing is very different from the usual GP clinic pricing. When you commit to us on the package, we are able to negotiate with the lab, drug suppliers etc on bulk  quantity of tests and drugs and we can then pass the savings back to you.
  2. Why is there an administrative fee if I choose to terminate the CDMP Package  prematurely?
    • Ans: There will be quite a fair amount of administrative work that needs to be done eg. informing CPF Board and refunding your Medisave account (it is CPF Board’s requirement that the Medisave account shall have first priority for all refunds).
  3. Why is there a 1 year validity period?
    • Ans: MOH has mandated a series of clinical criteria and tests that needs to be fulfilled or done in a year of disease management and patient care. Clinics will be audited to ensure that patients are managed in accordance with these requirements within the year concerned.
  4. Why is your package different from others?
    • Ans: Ours is a customised package that takes into consideration the type(s) of chronic diseases you are suffering from and the investigations, medications and treatment that are necessary. Different patients will be managed based on individual needs. We have formulated a template to calculate the cost of your customised programme.
  5. How do I know you are charging me correctly?
    • Ans: Your package is dependant on your current conditions, medications and management plan. Based on these criteria, our doctors and  staff will be able to give you a fixed rate. Do note that if your condition changes, the management plan may change too.
  6. Why is it not transferable?
    • Ans: Once a patient is registered under a particular doctor and clinic, MOH will audit the doctor and clinic to ensure that the clinical management guidelines are met. Substantial amount of administrative and accounting work will be involved in a transfer of care. Besides, you and your medisave payors will need to undergo the financial counseling process again.
  7. Can I bring forward the balance of the package to the next year?
    • Ans: The Ministry has specific requirements for doctors on what has to be done during the year for chronic patients. You will be reminded by our staff before the end of the year if you still have not completed the required tests. There will also not be any refund if you wish to bring forward the balance of the package.
  8. In that case, can I terminate the package before the end of the year and get a refund?
    • Ans: Yes, you may. However, the refund will be subject to our refund terms and it is unlikely to be of cost savings to you.
  9. What are your refund terms?
    • Ans:
    • For requested refunds:
      • An administrative fee of $50 shall be levied for any requests for refund of paid package.
      • Refund amount is calculated after deducting regular retail price of used portion.
      • Dispensed medications shall not be refunded.
    • For medication changes:
      • If your medication is changed to another in the same price, there shall be no refund or additional charge.
      • If your medication is charged to a lower category, we shall refund the difference.
      • If you medication is changed to a higher category, you will need to pay the difference (based on monthly usage) in cash.
  10. What happens to the money paid if a patient were to pass away before the year ends?
    • Ans: In such circumstances, we will process the cash refund as well as the refund to the medisave payors’ accounts for the unused part of the package based on the package price. We will also waive the $50 administrative fee.
  11. Must I see the same doctor at every visit?
    • Ans: You are encouraged to see your designated doctor at every visit. However, if he/she is not on duty, you will be seen by another doctor. However, your designated doctor will still be in charge and will continue to monitor you.
  12. What is your instalment payment like?
    • Ans: We allow a maximum of 4 instalments for a year and paid at quarterly intervals.
  13. The medicines that I am taking now are very expensive. I prefer to pay for them monthly. Can I not take up your package but still ask you to deduct my medisave to save me some cash?
    • Ans: Yes, you may.