Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (File photo)
MANILA – Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go reminded the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to “exert all efforts possible in accordance with our laws” to expedite the processing of payments for legitimate claims.
“Mas bilisan, mas simplehan, at mas iklian ang proseso sa tulong ng teknolohiya at dagdag na tao kung kakailanganin (Make it fast, simple, and shorten the process with the help of technology and additional personnel if needed),” Go said in a statement on Tuesday after some private hospitals have expressed their plan to sever ties with PhilHealth over its continued failure to pay reimbursement claims.
He said hospitals cannot continue their operations without the necessary funds “because of the expenses they pay while waiting (for) claims from PhilHealth.”
Go, however, appealed to the private hospitals to submit only legitimate claims.
“Umaapela rin ako sa mga ospital: siguraduhing lehitimo ang lahat ng mga claims na isinusumite sa PhilHealth para hindi na magtagal ang vetting process (I am appealing to the hospitals: make sure that all the claims submitted to PhilHealth are legitimate so as not to delay the vetting process),” he said.
Go said he and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea spoke to PhilHealth President Dante Gierran and Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPi) president Dr. Jose Rene de Grano on Tuesday.
“Pinaalalahanan namin ang pamunuan ng PhilHealth na ayusin ang mga isyu sa mga apektadong ospital at makipag-ugnayan rin sa mga grupo, tulad ng PHAPi, para maresolba ang problema sa mabilis at maayos na paraan (We reminded the management of PhilHealth to settle the issues of the affected hospitals and also coordinate with groups, such as the PHAPi, to resolve the problem in a quick and proper manner),” he said.
He said both PhilHealth and PHAPi committed to working together to protect the welfare of all affected Filipinos.
“Magtulungan tayo alang-alang sa mga kababayan natin. Hindi pwedeng maantala ang serbisyong pangkalusugan, lalo na’t meron tayong pandemyang pilit na nilalampasan (Let us help one another for the sake of our countrymen. We cannot delay health services, especially now that we are grappling with a pandemic),” Go said.
“Bilang Senador at Committee Chair on Health, patuloy kong tinututukan ito at handang pumagitna palagi para walang mapabayaan. Magtulungan tayo para maging protektado ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino (As a senator and Committee Chair on Health, I will continue to monitor and I am always ready to mediate so that no one is left behind. Let us work together to protect the lives of every Filipino).” (PNA)
