NO EFFECT. Philippine Health Insurance Corp.-Region 12 officials led by Dr. Antoniette Ladio (second from right), the acting regional vice president, face the media in Koronadal City on Monday afternoon (Oct. 14, 2019) to shed more light on the suspension and withdrawal of accreditation of three hospitals in the area. Ladio said such a decision was made to protect its funds and the welfare of members. (PNA photo by Wilnard Bacelonia)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) has assured its members that health insurance benefits will be unaffected in the wake of the suspension and withdrawal of its accreditation to three major hospitals here and in Koronadal City.
Dr. Antoniette Ladio, PhilHealth-12 acting regional vice president, said the agency made such a decision to protect its funds and the welfare of members in the two cities and neighboring areas.
“We only suspended and revoked the accreditation of the hospitals and not the benefits of our members,” he said in a press conference in Koronadal City on Monday afternoon.
Philhealth suspended the General Santos Doctors Hospital Inc. (GSDHI) here and withdrew the accreditation of the Dr. Arturo P. Pingoy Medical Center (APPMC) and the Allah Valley Medical Specialists Center Inc. (AVMSCI), both based in Koronadal City, for their alleged involvement in “fraudulent activities".
The suspension of GSDHI will take effect from October 21, 2019 to January 18, 2020 and from Jan. 19, 2020 to April 17, 2020 while the withdrawal of accreditation for APPMC and AVMSCI officially took effect last Oct. 10.
Ladio said these decisions, which came from their central office, followed due process and their guidelines.
Prior to the accreditation of the hospitals with PhilHealth, he said they signed performance commitments and agreed to follow the standards and guidelines of the corporation. He said these are provided for under Republic Act 7875 or the amended National Health Insurance Act of 2013.
Ladio said the writ of execution of suspension was served to GSDHI as its case already has a final decision issued by the Supreme Court.
The cases of APPMC and AVMSCI are still at their central office and the withdrawal of their accreditation was issued as a “preventive penalty”.
He explained that GSDHI may apply for “re-accreditation” after serving its six-month suspension while APPMC and AVMSCI still have legal remedies available, specifically the filing of appeals or motion for reconsideration.
But during the press conference, Ladio and other Philhealth-12 officials refused to disclose the specific violations committed by the concerned hospitals and if there were doctors involved by invoking the “sub judice” rule.
Ladio later claimed that they have no idea yet who were involved and what kind of fraudulent activities were committed by the three hospitals.
He said only the PhilHealth central office “knows who (were involved) and what kind of fraudulent activities" were committed.
"We want to emphasize that we were only directed to serve the writ of execution and the letters of withdrawal. The investigation was done in the central office and we just assisted them," he said.
In line with the status of the three hospitals, Ladio reminded them of their responsibilities to their patients. "These hospitals should inform the patients that they can no longer provide services to Philhealth members and could refer them to other health care providers, " he said.
PhilHealth-12 earlier posted public advisories on the matter at the entrance of the regional office and at the billing sections of the affected hospitals. (Wilnard Bacelonia/PNA)
