President Rodrigo Duterte is expediting the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) to respond to valid claims by hospitals, his spokesperson said Thursday.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, in response, PhilHealth approved the application of a Debit-Credit Payment Method to expedite the settlement of accounts in health care facilities (HCF) during a time when the country is in a state of public health emergency due to COVID-19 pandemic.
This payment scheme will be applicable to health care facilities in areas identified by the Inter-Agency Task Force and National Task Force, such as the National Capital Region, Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga and Rizal.
He said HCFs should have no record of the interim Reimbursement Mechanism Fund balance, and they should also continue to provide the SARS-COV-2 testing package while applying for this payment scheme.
Roque said PhilHealth will issue additional guidelines for this.
In this way, Roque said, Malacanang is confident that the delivery of healthcare services in selected areas will continue despite the increase in COVID-19 cases.
Duterte orders PhilHealth to pay hospitals immediately
Earlier, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go assured that PhilHealth will be able to pay its debts to the Philippine Red Cross and to private and public hospitals.
This was after receiving a call from the PRC chairman, Sen. Richard Gordon.
“Tumawag po sa’kin kanina si Sen. Gordon umagang-umaga pa lang, sabi niya ‘Bong tulungan mo naman sabi ko papakiusapan natin si Atty. [Dante] Gierran,’” said Go.
Aside from paying the Red Cross, Gordon also demanded that PhilHealth’s debt to private hospitals be repaid so that they can add beds for patients.
“Ang sabi po ng mga private hospitals and even government hospitals kapag nabayaran po ang kanilang mga… handa silang magdagdag ng hospital beds,” he added.
He also said the government plans to find other ways to increase facilities and vacate hospital beds.
“Maghahanap po ang ating gobyerno ng mga magagandang hotel para naman po kumportable yung mga pasyente yung mga health workers with mild cases para naman po mabigay yung mga kama doon sa mga severe cases po,” said Go.