Employers say greater transparency needed in managed care

Singapore

MORE transparency is needed in the transactions of managed care providers or third-party administrators (TPAs), who continue to have a role to play in the healthcare system, according to companies.

Employers approached by The Business Times said TPAs generally offer a valuable service and the firms were mostly supportive of a move towards greater transparency on current fee practices.

Of late, TPAs have come under the spotlight as some private-sector doctors and the Singapore Medical Association (SMA) pressed for regulation on this sector.

The key point of contention is that most TPAs charge doctors who join their schemes a fee tha…