The House of Representatives Special Committee on North Luzon Growth Quadrangle, chaired by Pangasinan 5th District Rep. Ramon V. Guico III, has called on Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to address the issue on claims made by hospitals in the country during the meeting held Thursday, October 14.
Officials from the PhilHealth during the meeting gave their report on Oplan Reconciliation with different health care institutions (HCIs) in Regions I and II and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and the status of the payment of pending claims to the HCIs in the said regions.
PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Dante Gierran aired his side on the issue of COVID-19 claims hounding the agency which is mandated to implement the universal health coverage in the country. He added that PhilHealth is already doing some streamlining to fix the problem.
The former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director also lamented the cases filed against officials of the government owned and controlled corporation.
PhilHealth area vice president Walter Bacareza discussed the claims received by the agency from CAR and Regions 1 and 2. He noted that PhilHealth has received over P7.75 billion claims from hospitals from the said regions. He also explained the reasons for the denied claims and that PhilHealth is already making steps to conduct meetings with HICs and other concerned organizations such as the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) .
PhilHealth acting executive vice president and chief operating officer Eli Dino Santos expounded on the suspension of claims made by HCIs. He added that PhilHealth will comply with the Lower House's request to issue a monthly report as well as provide a grace period policy on the said claims. Santos also asked for the assistance of the House regarding the claims issue.
Philippine Hospital Association (PHA) president Dr. Jaime Almora talked about the COVID-19 claims made by hospitals from the said regions and the graft and corruption cases filed against PhilHealth officials. Almora called on the Lower House to investigate the said issues.