Two doctors suspended over non-compliant insurance claims

It will last for six months effective on 5 August.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has suspended two doctors’ MediSave and MediShield Life accreditations for six months for "severe non-compliance", beginning 5 August.

Teo Ching Ching Melissa from The Surgical Oncology Clinic at Connexion in Farrer Park and Melissa Teo Surgery in Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, and Lim Pei Yee Natasha from Natasha Lim Eye Centre at Royal Square @ Novena are required to undergo mandatory training.

Their clinics will be closely monitored for future claims. 

Teo and Lim run the risk of having their licenses revoked in case of repeated violations, the MOH warned.

Teo reported inflated her total claim by submitting excess Table of Surgical Procedure codes, a practice she had previously been warned by in 2023.

Lim, meanwhile, submitted six severely non-compliant MediShield Life claims for procedures for conditions her patients did not have, and providing unnecessary treatments to patients.

Lim also reportedly attempted to recover the inappropriately claimed amounts from one of her patients despite the MOH’s warnings. 

Four other doctors will undergo mandatory training due to claims that include overservicing, multi-coding, and unnecessary inpatient admissions. 

The enforcement follow the setting up of the Claims Management Office in 2022, and the commencement of the Escalation and Enforcement Framework from 1 April 2023. 

Under the framework, doctors and dentists could be subject to various actions. These range from engagement through a Letter of Advice for less serious cases, to mandatory training, suspension, and revocation for the most egregious cases.