DAGUPAN CITY — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) Regional Office in Region 1 (Ilocos Region) has mandated health care institutions (HCIs) not to require Philhealth members to submit the member data record (MDR) in availing benefits.
Joseph Abuan Manuel, information officer of Philhealth-Ilocos, in an interview Wednesday afternoon, said Regional Vice President Alberto Manduriao issued an advisory last month informing HCIs in Region 1 that MDR is no longer a mandatory requirement for Philhealth benefits availment.
He said the advisory is in support of the nationwide implementation of the Electronic Claims System.
“Since we are in the transition from paper to paperless system, our regional vice president issued the advisory. Wherein, the updating of members’ data can be done through the hospitals accredited by Philhealth,” Manuel said.
The member should just fill-out the form and submit to the hospital the required documents, and the hospital will electronically send it to Philhealth.
“Within that day, the updating of member data will be accomplished,” he added.
This gives the watchers or the family members more time to watch over their patients instead of going to Philhealth offices to get an MDR, he added.
Manuel noted that the measure is just a corrective way to the system to make sure that the data are updated in Philhealth’s system.
“However, we encourage the members to update their data in Philhealth’s office in their respective town or city even when they still do not need it. Filipinos sometimes have the habit, wherein they only update their data when they are hospitalized,” he said.
“Likewise, proof of contribution shall only be required if the system prompted and required an updated member’s contribution upon eligibility checking,” the advisory stated.
Manuel admitted that they are monitoring some of the hospitals in the region that are not complying with the said advisory.
“Non-compliance would mean a breach of Warranties of Accreditation or Performance Commitment and shall be dealt with in accordance with the pertinent provision of Republic Act 7875, as amended, and its implementing Rules and Regulations,” the advisory also stated. (Hilda Austria/PNA)
