Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Regional Office 10 (PhilHealth 10) signed a landmark Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with six Cagayan de Oro City PhilHealth-accredited hospitals on 8 December 2017 at SEDA Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City, that provides for a No Hospital Deposit Policy for PhilHealth members.
Dr. Ruben Go, (Medical Director of CDO Polymedic Plaza), Dr. Miguel E. Kho (Madonna and Child Hospital), Dr. Jesus M. Jardin (Capitol University Medical Center) Mr. Dexter R. Garcia (Cagayan de Oro Medical Center), Dr. Michael C. Sabal (Sabal Hospital), SPC Sr. Mercy Corazon G. Bangot (Maria Reyna XU Hospital) and Datu Masiding M. Alonto, Jr., (Area Vice-President for Mindanao) signed the historic document. The partnership was sealed in the presence of Hon. Oscar Moreno, CDO City Mayor, Atty. Carlo Franco Thomas Limjoco, DOH 10, Dr. Ma. Lourdes S. Gaane, City Councilor, Dr. Jonathan T. Ortigoza, HCDMMD Chief-PRO 10, and Atty. Ian Alfredo T, Magno, Deputy Legal Officer, PRO 10.
The MOA seeks to strengthen RA 10932, or the “No Hospital Deposit Law”. It mandates that, “in emergency or serious cases, it shall be unlawful for any hospital or medical clinic to request, solicit, demand or accept any deposit or any other form of advance payment as prerequisite for administering basic emergency care, for confinement or medical treatment, or to refuse to administer medical treatment and support any patient”.
Under the agreement, the PhilHealth accredited hospital shall not impose a deposit requirement for eligible PhilHealth members and their dependents that come to the facility for confinement or admission. This would apply to both emergency and non-emergency cases. It also allows admission or confinement of all eligible PhilHealth members without any deposit requirement in all types of room accommodation.
“We are hopeful that this will encourage other private hospitals and facilities to follow suit and prioritize the treatment of patients rather than compromising their health and safety due to financial constraints”, RVP Alonto stressed. PhilHealth 10 intends to intensify and expand its campaign for the No Hospital Deposit Policy to all Private Health Care Institutions in 2018. (PhilHealth 10)
