Metro Manila (CNN Philippine, November 2) – Both Malacañang and the Senate again called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to speed up payment of its unsettled debts to private hospitals, with some facilities now considering disengagement from the agency.
“Paulit-ulit na pong sinasabi ni Presidente sa kanya, alam ko po ito paulit-ulit na silang nag-usap: Hayaan mo nang bayaran nang bayaran ‘yan,” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday, referring to PhilHealth chief Atty. Dante Gierran.
[Translation: The President has told him again and again, and I know they’ve discussed this over and over: Just keep on paying them.]
“Dahil sa panahon ng pandemya, talagang magkakagulo at magkakaroon ng kakulangan kung ang mga pribadong hospital ay hindi kasama sa Universal Health Care,” Roque further explained.
[Translation: Because during a pandemic, chaos will surely ensue and there really would be a void if private hospitals wouldn’t be covered by Universal Health Care.]
Roque, one of the authors of the law’s House version during his time as Kabayan representative, said the government will always have enough funding for the UHC from sin taxes, the Health department’s appropriation, and revenues from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Philippine Gaming Corporation.
Senators separately urged the state health insurer to immediately settle claims up for reimbursement, noting the dire repercussions for hospitals if it fails to do so.
“The delay in payment could force hospitals to downsize or worse, halt operations, to the detriment of their workers who will lose jobs, and our people who cannot anymore take a heavy beating from the pandemic,” said Sen. Grace Poe in a statement.
Sen. Imee Marcos, meanwhile, noted that the UHC law along with PhilHealth will be rendered useless if hospitals indeed push through with their planned disengagement.
“Ngayong walang trabaho at walang pera ang mga tao, sino ang magbabayad sa kanilang medical expenses, kung hindi na rehistrado sa PhilHealth ang mga ospital?” said Marcos, adding that tens of millions of direct and indirect contributors might lose their medical benefits.
[Translation: Now that people don’t have jobs or income, who will pay for their medical expenses if hospitals aren’t registered with PhilHealth anymore?]
Sen. Risa Hontiveros also joined her colleagues in urging for the speedy settlement of the claims, but also called on hospitals to remain committed to ensuring access to affordable healthcare.
“The government, given its limited capacity to provide hospital care, should explore options to provide crucial financial aid to hospitals at risk,” said the senator, emphasizing that the country’s health system must also be able to take care of the needy and not just those who can pay.
Senate Health Committee chairman Bong Go, meanwhile, appealed to hospitals to ensure all their claims are legitimate so as not to prolong PhilHealth’s vetting process.
Go also reported that he and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea have talked with the heads of PhilHealth and the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPi) to discuss the matter.
“Both sides committed to work together in order to protect the welfare of all Filipinos who are affected,” said the senator.
