Software error caused 7700 Singaporeans to receive inaccurate CHAS subsidies, says Singapore’s Health Ministry

Due to an error in the software administered by NCS Pte Ltd (NCS), about 7700 individuals received inaccurate healthcare and intermediate and long term subsidies, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on February 16 2019.

The individuals affected were those who had their Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) card applications and renewals processed from September 18 to October 10 2018. CHAS enables Singapore citizens from lower to middle-income households and all Pioneers* to receive subsidies for medical and dental care at participating GP and dental clinics near their home.

Specifically, the error occured in the computer system when it calculated means test results. MOH said it is working with healthcare service providers and scheme administrators to reach out to the affected individuals.

About 1,300 of them who received lower subsidies will have the difference reimbursed to them and another 6,400 individuals received higher subsidies due to the error. However, they do need to return the additional subsidises disbursed.

The means-test system calculates the healthcare subsidies which individuals are eligible for, based on their income information.

Timeline of key events (as stated by MOH and NCS)

• September 24 2018 : First means test discrepancy was detected by CHAS processing team and incident reported to NCS.
• October 10 2018 : Software version issue detected was fixed.
• October 10 to November 29 2018 : 5 more cases of inaccurate means-test results were detected, NCS applications support team investigated since September 24 but could not pinpoint the root cause. MOH was informed.
• November 29 – December 5 2018 : MOH and NCS worked together to assess the impact to individuals and the extent of impact was assessed to be thousands of individuals, and scheme beside CHAS.
• January 14 2019 : Correct subsidy tiers for each scheme were generated and provided to MOH.
• January 18 2019 : Measures were implemented to contain impact on non-CHAs schemes.
• February 10 2019 : Number of unique individuals affected all schemes were determined.
• February 16 2019 : Subsidy tiers of affected individuals were fully corrected and affected individuals were to be progressively informed. Reimbursements to commence.

MOH expects all the affected individuals to be informed by mid-March 2019.

Just last month, MOH announced that the confidential data of 14,200 individuals with HIV were illegally leaked online and the information is in the possession of American Mikhy K Farrera Brochez, who used to reside in Singapore. A police report was made and investigations are still pending.

_{*The ‘Pioneer Generation’ is defined as living Singaporeans who meet 2 criteria: i. Aged 16 and above in 1965 (born on or before 31 Dec 1949, which also means they are aged 65 and above in 2014); and ii. Obtained citizenship on or before 31 Dec 1986.}

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