ILOILO CITY— The Western Visayas office of the state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth Region 6) clarified that it has paid 80 percent of claims in Iloilo City.
Atty. Valerie Anne H. Hollero, PhilHealth regional vice president, said that the 80 percent of claims equates to P2.47 billion in reimbursement payments for hospitals and other health facilities in Iloilo City.
This was after Mayor Jerry Treñas announced last week of possible criminal and administrative cases against PhilHealth Region 6 for allegedly failing to pay the claims amounting to P1.35 billion.
Treñas claimed that the non-payment has contributed to the problems of the health sector in handling the pandemic, especially with rising COVID-19 cases in Western Visayas.
Iloilo City has tertiary hospitals where patients with serious medical conditions are referred to. City hospitals cater to patients from Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Guimaras provinces.
But based on PhilHealth's records, the P2.47 billion covers payments for the period of 2020 until August 25, 2021.
While some payments are still in process, there are those that have been denied.
“It is emphasized that PhilHealth can only pay for good claims. The denied claims have to be re-filed and appealed respectively by the concerned health care institution,” explained Hollero in a response to a query of Manila Bulletin.
Meanwhile, PhilHealth Region 6 reiterated the reminder to healthcare institutions in Western Visayas to promptly submit its claim in order for it to be validated and paid.