• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Bacolod Lone District Rep. Alfredo Benitez is pushing for an investigation into the reported delays in guarantee letter reimbursement and denial or late payments of PhilHealth claims.
In House Resolution 125 pending with the Committee on Rules since Aug. 12, Benitez took note of a report from the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) that 40 percent of its 1,200 member-hospitals have pending claims exceeding a total of P7 billion, encompassing all government medical assistance programs.
“Despite the wide array of available medical assistance programs, patients continue to struggle accessing timely and adequate medical care due to the slowdown or suspension of guarantee letter acceptance in some private health facilities,” the solon said.
He added that some hospitals have reportedly started requiring down payment or collateral payment to secure and protect their operations and profitability from the negative consequences that arise from significant delays in the transfer of funds from the government to the hospitals.
“These realities signify a policy gap in the implementation of an efficient, accessible, and responsive health system, especially in the ensuring a seamless flow of transaction between all entities involved in its delivery,” Benitez said.
He urged the House Committee on Health to conduct the inquiry, in aid of legislation.
An official of PhilHealth in Region 6, meanwhile, said the agency has disbursed P173.68 billion in benefit claims payment nationwide from January to Aug. 2, which was 86.39 percent higher compared to last year’s P93.18 billion.
“Of this, the Regional Office VI accounted for P8.01 billion” that benefited more than 593,916 members, PhilHealth6 acting regional vice president Lazaro Tabsing, said in a press release Aug. 15.
During an orientation on benefit payment reconciliation attended by more than 260 representatives from hospital and nonhospital healthcare facilities across Region VI in Iloilo City, Tabsing emphasized the importance of timely and transparent reconciliation efforts to improve service delivery.
“By working hand-in-hand on accurate reconciliation, we can address issues more efficiently, ensure faster payment releases, and ultimately fulfill our commitment to both healthcare providers and our members,” he stressed. | CGC
