The Haze Subsidy Scheme (HSS) was activated on 12 October 2026. MOH Circular No. 77/2026 (9 October 2026) set out the rewritten HSS Guidelines for Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPCs), with four changes since the scheme last ran in 2015.
Status and who is covered
MOH announced on 11 October that the HSS starts on 12 October 2026 at PHPCs and all polyclinics, as haze air quality worsened. No end date has been stated. MOH will send clinics a circular up to 5 calendar days before deactivation, and clinics then get one more month to submit outstanding claims through the MOH Healthcare Claims Portal (MHCP). AIC notifies accredited clinics of activation by email and SMS, and clinics should acknowledge the message via FormSG within 2 hours, or as soon as possible.
HSS is for Singapore Citizens only. Permanent Residents and foreigners are not eligible. At PHPCs, eligible groups are:
- Children aged 18 and below, and adults aged 65 and above
- Cardholders of Public Assistance (PA), Pioneer Generation (PG), Merdeka Generation (MG), CHAS Blue or Orange, or the Medical Fee Exemption Card (MFEC)
At polyclinics, all Singapore Citizens qualify. If a PHPC patient holds several cards, select the card category in the order listed above, rather than “child” or “elderly”. The patient pays a flat fee and MOH reimburses the clinic a flat rate per visit. Do not charge GST to the patient. GST-registered clinics receive an extra $5.40 (acute) or $9.00 (chronic) per visit.
| Patient group | Patient pays | MOH reimburses, acute visit | MOH reimburses, chronic visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| PA cardholders | $0 | $60 | $100 |
| PG / MG cardholders | $5 | $55 | $95 |
| CHAS Blue / Orange, or MFEC | $10 | $50 | $90 |
| Children (18 and below), elderly (65 and above) | $10 | $50 | $90 |
Amounts exclude GST and follow the HSS Guidelines. MOH’s public announcement describes patient charges as “no more than” $5 or $10, so check the latest FAQ if a case is unclear. If a patient has both an acute and a chronic condition, submit one chronic claim only.
What is new since 2015
- Separate fixed rates for HSS acute and HSS chronic conditions.
- Merdeka Generation co-payment is now $5, or the total bill if lower.
- Pneumonia (J189) is no longer a complication of asthma (J459), with effect from 1 July 2026.
- Teleconsultations are claimable for eligible patients with acute or chronic HSS conditions, where clinically appropriate.
Complications are also tighter: they are claimable only when the patient presents with the matching primary diagnosis in the same visit. Standalone complications are not claimable.
Conditions and complications that can be claimed
Six primary diagnoses are covered. Bronchitis, conjunctivitis and URTI are billed at the acute rate. Allergic rhinitis, asthma and COPD are billed at the chronic rate.
| Category | Primary diagnosis (ICD-10-AM) | Claimable complications, same visit only |
|---|---|---|
| Acute | Acute bronchitis (J209) | Pneumonia (J189) |
| Acute | Conjunctivitis (H109) | None |
| Acute | Acute URTI (J069) | Otitis media (H669), pneumonia (J189), acute maxillary sinusitis (J010) |
| Chronic | Allergic rhinitis (J304) | Otitis media (H669), acute maxillary sinusitis (J010) |
| Chronic | Asthma (J459) | None |
| Chronic | COPD (J449) | Pneumonia (J189) |
The treating doctor decides whether an episode is haze-related. Diagnosis is clinical, based on a history of elevated pollutant levels, especially with prolonged outdoor exposure. For asthma and COPD, doctors can also weigh haze severity around symptom onset and how the exacerbation compares with the patient’s past ones. Document the diagnosis and relevant notes clearly.
Teleconsultation
Teleconsultation is claimable only when the doctor can reach the diagnosis with confidence from history and visual inspection alone, and no red flags are present. The same patient charges and reimbursement rates apply, and patients must not be charged for medication delivery. A patient can have at most two teleconsultations for the same condition within 14 calendar days. A third requires an in-person review.
| Condition | May suit teleconsultation | Escalate to in-person review |
|---|---|---|
| Acute bronchitis | Mild, systemically well, no chronic lung disease, speaks full sentences | Breathlessness, chest pain, high or persistent fever, confusion; known chronic lung disease; elderly, frail or multimorbid |
| Conjunctivitis | Uncomplicated viral or allergic, bilateral itch, watery discharge | Unilateral red eye, photophobia, visual change, purulent discharge, contact lens wearer, trauma, infant, worsening on treatment |
| Acute URTI | Well, classic symptoms, under 7 to 10 days and not worsening | High fever, facial pain, periorbital swelling, stridor or drooling, symptoms over 10 days, significant comorbidity, possible strep or bacterial sinusitis needing examination |
| Allergic rhinitis | Known diagnosis, uncomplicated flare linked to haze | Fever, unilateral or bloodstained discharge, facial pain or swelling, wheeze or breathlessness |
| Asthma | Mild exacerbation settling with reliever, known to the clinic, adherent, good technique, knows action plan | Cannot speak full sentences, accessory muscle use, night waking, previous near-fatal asthma, recent steroids or ED visit, new inhaler needed, pregnancy |
| COPD | Stable at baseline, routine follow-up or repeat medication | Any exacerbation, more breathlessness, sputum change, fever, new ankle oedema, confusion, home oxygen, recent admission, steroids or antibiotics being considered |
The table is a guide, not a replacement for clinical judgement.
Claiming rules
- One HSS claim per patient per day. Try to establish whether the patient has already been to another clinic that day. MOH honours a good-faith claim. If a patient insists on a second visit the same day, see them but do not claim.
- Flat fee, no itemisation needed. The bill shows $0, $5 or $10 for the HSS components. Non-HSS items can be on a separate bill, or itemised on the same bill with an explanation to the patient. GST-registered clinics should show that GST is absorbed by MOH.
- Unrelated conditions (for example diabetes or hypertension) are billed separately under normal CHAS rules, with no separate consult charge.
- Medication: up to one week of acute medication per consultation. Larger quantities need documented justification if audited. Generics are encouraged.
- Co-payment: allergic rhinitis, asthma and COPD patients can use MediSave500/700 under the Chronic Disease Management Programme, subject to the 15% cash co-payment. Those aged 60 and above can use Flexi-MediSave for any HSS visit.
- Consent: display the patient consent notice prominently. Written consent is not needed, but patients who do not agree cannot receive HSS subsidies.
Not claimable under HSS:
- Home visits, vaccinations, N95 masks and other PPE, smoking cessation products
- Medication dispensed without a consultation
- Antibiotics without a clear documented indication such as secondary bacterial infection
- Antivirals and microbiology tests, including point-of-care tests, for URTI
- Ketotifen and other medicines not approved for COPD
- Vitamins, supplements, traditional or complementary medicine, non-HSA-registered or off-label medicines
Claims go through the MHCP haze claim page, which stays open for one month after deactivation. Claims must be submitted after the service is delivered, never in advance.
Audit and what to do now
MOH-appointed auditors can inspect records at the clinic during normal business hours without prior appointment. They check that claims were made after service delivery, that financial data matches the case notes, and that charges follow the eligibility rules. Findings can lead to repayment of excess subsidy, including set-off against future payments. Serious cases can lead to suspension or termination from the PHPC scheme and other MOH financing schemes, or referral to the authorities. Clinics that stop being CDMP or CHAS accredited must stop offering PHPC services and remove all PHPC decals and posters immediately.
If your clinic is a PHPC, check these now that the scheme is live:
- Acknowledge AIC’s activation message via FormSG if you have not already
- Display the PHPC decal, the HSS poster (with the date filled in) and the patient consent notice where patients can see them. Take the poster down when the scheme is deactivated
- Check front desk staff know the card categories, charges and the one-claim-per-day rule
- Brief doctors on teleconsultation limits, antibiotic documentation and what is non-claimable
- Keep clinic contact details current in MHCP and clinic details current in the Healthcare Application and Licensing Portal (HALP)
- Encourage eligible patients to apply for a CHAS card online at chas.sg, since the income self-declaration form is no longer used
Questions can go to the AIC hotline on 6632 1199 or gp@aic.sg, or to MOH on 6325 9220 or MOH_INFO@moh.gov.sg.
Sources: MOH Circular No. 77/2026 (9 October 2026) and the HSS Guidelines 2026 (Annex C to the circular); MOH press release on the 12 October 2026 start; MOH haze page.