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Go directs PhilHealth to expedite payment to hospitals

By Filane Mikee Cervantes

April 23, 2021, 5:42 pm

MANILA – Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Friday said the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has assured that it would immediately settle billions of pesos in unpaid "legitimate" claims to health service providers to ensure their continued operation.

Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, said he has constantly reminded PhilHealth and government finance managers to follow the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to speed up payments of unsettled debts to hospitals to ensure the continuous delivery of healthcare services amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

Based on the recent PhilHealth update, Go said the state health insurer has paid a total of PHP4.22 billion out of the PHP7 billion worth of claims from healthcare facilities in the National Capital Region Plus area.

As for the remaining unsettled bills, Go said claimant-hospitals must submit signed Letters of Undertaking required by the Commission on Audit to avoid any fraudulent claims.

"Sa mga ospital at iba pang healthcare providers, sundin lang po natin ang tamang proseso. Sa PhilHealth naman, huwag niyo na pong patagalin pa. Magmalasakit at magbayanihan po tayong lahat dahil buhay ng kapwa nating Pilipino ang nakasalalay dito (To the hospitals and other healthcare providers, let's just follow the right process. As for PhilHealth, let's not delay this any longer. Let's all be compassionate and help each other out because the lives of our fellow Filipinos are at stake here)," he said in a statement.

Go said settling obligations is crucial to help increase bed capacity and improve response.

"Gawin natin ang lahat upang maprotektahan at mailigtas ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino. Siguraduhin din dapat na bawat piso mula sa pondo ng taumbayan ay nagagamit nang tama at hindi nananakaw o nasasayang (Let us do our best to protect and save the lives of every Filipino. Let us also ensure that every peso from public funds is spent right instead of being wasted or stolen)," he said.

Under PhilHealth Circular 2021-0004 issued on April 8, 2021, the use of Debit-Credit Payment Method will facilitate the settlement of accounts payable to healthcare facilities (HCFs).

The circular applies to in-process claims from accredited HCFs treating Covid-19 patients and facilities providing the PhilHealth Covid-19 testing package, with no unliquidated interim reimbursement mechanism fund balances on record, and whose accreditation is not currently suspended.

In-process claims already approved for payment, as of April 7 this year, are not covered by the circular.

President Duterte earlier directed PhilHealth to expedite the payment of hospital claims.

Duterte’s directive came after the state-run medical insurer earlier acknowledged delays in its processing of reimbursement claims by hospitals. (PNA)

 

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