A PhilHealth executive admitted in the House hearing on Thursday that some funds released through the Interim Refund Mechanism (IRM) are illegal. The IRM is a cash advance measure that provides emergency funds to hospitals in case calamities and other disasters take place.
Some legislators questioned the utilization of the IRM amid the issuance of PhilHealth Circular No. 2020-007 last March after it was discovered that the IRM was only effective on June 11.
“Ang tinatanong ko sa’yo (What I am asking), what happened to the funds disbursed prior to this date? Say, March, April, May, and June 10? What happened to those funds?” SAGIP Paty-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta queried.
“It would appear that those funds were not released based on the prerequisite set by the circular on the publication and the furnishing of copies to the ONAR,” PhilHealth Senior Vice President Atty. Rodolfo del Rosario admitted.
The state health insurer also confessed that it released funds to healthcare facilities with pending cases.
The House committee warned PhilHealth officials not to underestimate the inquiry being conducted by the legislators. PhilHealth SVP del Rosario was nearly cited in contempt for being absent in the hearing. He showed up after the warning.
“Many of the problems we are now tackling and the investigation being conducted is because the legal department of PhilHealth was not able, or did not do its job, in investigating these anomalies early on as part of their job in PhilHealth,” Cavite 7th District Rep. Jesus Remulla pointed out.
– Report from Daniel Manalastas
