Patients with lower back and neck pain are now eligible for subsidised acupuncture treatment at public specialist outpatient clinics.<\/p>\n
This pilot programme will provide referred patients with means-tested subsidies that can cover up to 70 per cent of treatment costs, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
About 2,000 patients a year, or 70 per cent of all who visit public specialist outpatient clinics for pain in the lower back and neck, are set to benefit under this pilot.<\/p>\n
Merdeka Generation and Pioneer Generation seniors will enjoy an additional 25 per cent and 50 per cent off the remaining healthcare bill, respectively.<\/p>\n
All patients, regardless of their subsidy status, will also be able to pay for acupuncture services to relieve lower back and neck pain using their Flexi-MediSave scheme.<\/p>\n
The scheme, introduced by the Health Ministry in 2015, aims to reduce out-of-pocket costs for older Singaporeans at polyclinics, general practitioner clinics on the Community Health Assist Scheme, and public specialist outpatient clinics.<\/p>\n
Seniors can begin to benefit from Flexi-MediSave once they are 60 years of age.<\/p>\n
Those who qualify can withdraw up to $200 a year from their own MediSave account or that of their spouse to pay for outpatient treatments.<\/p>\n
\"The pilot will not cover acupuncture used to treat other pain indications, and other forms of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine currently offered at public healthcare institutions,\" said MOH.<\/p>\n
Jessie Lim<\/p>\n
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Subsidised acupuncture therapy for lower back, neck pain - The Straits Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Patients with lower back and neck pain are now eligible for subsidised acupuncture treatment at public specialist outpatient clinics. This pilot programme will provide referred patients with means-tested subsidies that can cover up to 70 per cent of treatment costs, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Tuesday. Continue reading