AnaKalusugan Party-list Rep. Ray Reyes (Screenshot from YouTube live)

AnaKalusugan Party-list  Rep. Ray Reyes says the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) must be mindful so as to prevent hospital claims from accumulating again to the detriment of its members. 

"Ngayong na-settle na nila ang kanilang mga bayarin sa mga ospital, dapat siguruhin nilang hindi na muling magkaroon ng ganitong aberya para di naaantala ang serbisyong pangkalusugan ng ating mga kababayan," Reyes said in a statement Sunday, Feb. 18. 

(Now that they've settled their hospital payments, they must ensure that there won't be another foul up so that our countrymen won't be inconvenienced again when it comes to healthcare.) 

The lawmaker made the statement after PhilHealth revealed that it already paid P50 billion worth of previously unsettled claims to hospitals and doctors in the last five months of 2023. 

"Kailangang pag-aralang mabuti ng PhilHealth kung papaano aayusin ang kanilang sistema pagdating sa payment of claims," Reyes said. 

(PhilHealth must study carefully how it can fix its system when it comes to the payment of claims.) 

The neophyte congressman said the state health insurer needs to continuously improve its system in settling dues. "Hindi pa tapos ang laban. Palagay namin marami pang mabibigay na benepisyo ang PhilHealth alinsunod sa pagpapatupad ng Universal Healthcare Law," he added. 

(The fight isn't over yet. We think PhilHealth can still crank out more benefits based on its implementation of the Universal Healthcare Law.) 

Reyes had earlier urged PhilHealth to use its excess funds amounting to P200 billion in providing better healthcare services to the people. 

He also called on PhilHealth to streamline its validating process and make it easier for Filipinos to avail of healthcare services. 

"Dahil sa pagtaas ng PhilHealth premium, umaasa din ang ating mga kababayan ng masmataas na healthcare coverage," the pro-health solon said. 

(The rise in PhilHealth premium comes with the expectation of wider healthcare coverage from our countrymen.) 

"Dapat pagtuunan ito ng pansin ng PhilHealth at ibigay sa bawat Pilipino ang serbisyo na dapat sa kanila," he added. 

(PhilHealth must focus on this and give every Filipino the service that is due to them.)