Only the board of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) with the majority vote of its members, not its president, has the power to revoke the accreditations of health care professionals (HCPs).
In a decision written by Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, the SC stressed that while the PhilHealth president may resolve applications for accreditation, only the PhilHealth board has the authority to act on withdrawals or revocations of accreditations.
With the ruling, the SC affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) which declared as unlawfully revoked the accreditation of Dr. Jose Mari Del Valle Galauran.
The SC denied the petition filed by PhilHealth.
In its ruling which was affirmed by the SC, the CA declared that the withdrawal of Galauran’s accreditation was invalid because it was issued without lawful authority which is vested in the PhilHealth Board.
In affirming CA, the SC ruled:
“The Court will not penalize HCPs when there is a clear lack of evidence to support a finding of administrative liability for Misrepresentation by Furnishing False of Incorrect Information under Section 162 of the RIRR (Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations), and Breach of the Warranties of Accreditations/Performance Commitment under Section 163 of the RIRR. We will not deprive the public of their right to health and patient care services, as well as the chance to have a better quality of life and well-being.
“Accordingly, the Petition for Review on Certiorari is denied. The decision dated Sept. 13, 2023, and the Resolution dated Dec. 13, 2023, of the Court of Appeals in CA GR SP No. 169097 are affirmed. So ordered.”