Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima has echoed calls in the House of Representatives to investigate the alleged refusal of certain hospitals to accept guarantee letters (GLs) under the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program.

De Lima on Thursday, July 10, filed House Resolution (HR) No. 46 after receiving reports that at least 43 hospitals in Batangas suspended accepting GLs pending the unpaid claims from the government amounting to P530 million.

The resolution's aim is to hold an investigation on the existing government policies regarding payment of unsettled hospital bills and identify any gaps that cause delay in payment to expeditiously address them.

It also seeks to determine existing government programs and funds in providing assistance to indigent patients and their families on hospital expenses, as well as the rights of hospitals and clinics over unsettled bills.

MAIFIP is a  program under the Department of Health (DOH) which provides financial assistance to indigent Filipinos on healthcare expenses. Under the 2025 national budget, P41.15 billion has been allocated to the said program. 

"This has been a perennial  issue that should urgently be addressed once and for all. It burdens patients and their families with additional fear if they could get assistance from the government in medical expenses," De Lima said.

The former senator stressed that the government should provide and implement clear mechanisms, including speedy and inexpensive remedies to promptly settle unpaid claims in hospitals that affect their ability to render quality and efficient healthcare services, which result in closures, and hospitals stopping to accept guarantee letters from indigent patients.

In her resolution, De Lima even recalled the unpaid claims by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) despite having hundreds of billions of available funds, which led to closures of some hospitals.

"These unpaid debts affect hospitals' financial stability and operating expenses, including salaries for healthcare professionals and staff," she said, raising concern that these incidents affect hospital operations and services that happen despite the existing Universal Health Care Law.

"Filipinos' right to access urgent medical care should not be denied just because they cannot afford to pay hospital bills, or because of the lack of trust of private hospitals that the government will pay them," she added.