The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPi) called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to lift the temporary halt on claims payment to private hospitals being probed due to alleged anomalous claims.
PHAPi Pres. Dr. Jose Rene de Grano said in the Aug. 25 Laging Handa briefing that healthcare providers will suffer from the implementation of PhilHealth’s circular on temporary suspension of payment of claims (TSPC).
“[May] isa lang claim na kinuwestiyon sa inyo, and then lahat, buong claims ninyo – iyong past, present at saka future claims, i-stop na nila. Ibig sabihin, parang pinutulan nila ng lifeline ang isang health care provider… Kawawa pa rin ang ating mga pasyente,” he said.
“We have enough time until, halimbawa, end of December to renew our accreditation. Iyon nga lang, baka marami pong hospital ang talagang hindi na po nila kayanin ay baka nga po hindi na po sila magpa-accredit,” he added.
The House committee on health has already asked PhilHealth during its hearing on Aug. 24 (Tuesday) to revisit the said circular.
Several hospital and medical groups earlier issued statements stating that they will cut ties with the state insurer if the TSPC pushes through.
During President Duterte’s Aug. 24 public address, spokesperson Harry Roque said some hospitals complained that PhilHealth’s move is “arbitrary and unjust,” adding that PhilHealth “owes the private hospitals up to P7-M each on average.”
“Ang total na utang po ng PhilHealth sa mga pribadong hospital ay P86-B … Ang mga pribadong hospital naman, gaya ng lahat ng private practitioners, kung hindi sila makakasingil ay talagang magsasarado sila,” he said.
“Nabalita na nga po na ngayon, dalawang hospital na ang nagsarado dahil hindi nga po sila nababayaran ng PhilHealth. Kaya sabi ko po, nakikiusap tayo, sana po bayaran na ‘yan,” he added. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG-bny
