The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday, Jan. 17, said it will release new guidelines for the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) before the end of February, in line with a stricter policy banning the use of guarantee letters from elected officials to pay hospital bills.

“Bago magtapos ang Pebrero, ilalabas ng DOH ang bagong guidelines ng Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients o MAIFIP (Before the end of February, the DOH will release the new guidelines for the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients or MAIFIP),” DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said in a radio interview.

He said the updated guidelines are anchored on President Marcos’ directive prohibiting guarantee letters from elected officials in settling patients’ hospital bills, a policy now institutionalized under the 2026 national budget.

“Nakabase ang guidelines sa mahigpit na utos na bawal na ang mga guarantee letter mula sa mga elected official para bayaran ang bill ng pasyente sa mga hospital. Nakasaad ang probisyong ito sa Section 19 ng 2026 General Appropriations Act o GAA (The guidelines are based on a strict order banning guarantee letters from elected officials to pay patients’ hospital bills. This provision is stated under Section 19 of the 2026 General Appropriations Act or GAA),” he said.

Under the revised MAIFIP framework, the DOH said it will expand benefit coverage to include more outpatient and specialized services.

“Sa bagong MAIFIP guidelines, palalawakin din ang benefit coverage sa mga ambulatory care, ambulatory surgical clinics, eye centers, ophthalmology services, dental services, free-standing dialysis clinics, at FDA-approved na gamot (Under the new MAIFIP guidelines, benefit coverage will also be expanded to include ambulatory care, ambulatory surgical clinics, eye centers, ophthalmology services, dental services, free-standing dialysis clinics, and FDA-approved medicines),” he added.

One of the major changes, Domingo said, is the full inclusion of doctors’ professional fees.

“Isa sa mga pangunahing pagbabago ang 100 percent inclusion coverage ng professional fees ng mga doktor alinsunod sa mga patnubay ng DOH at in consultation with established medical societies (One of the major changes is the 100 percent inclusion coverage of doctors’ professional fees in accordance with DOH guidelines and in consultation with established medical societies),” he said.

Domingo also noted that the expanded coverage is supported by a higher MAIFIP budget allocation this year.

“Mula sa 41,159,910,000 sa ilalim ng 2025 GAA, tumaas ito ngayong taon sa 51,647,816,000 na budget, na magsisilbing basehan sa ilalabas na MAIFIP guidelines ng kagawaran bago matapos ang Pebrero 2026 (From P41,159,910,000 under the 2025 GAA, this increased this year to a budget of P51,647,816,000, which will serve as the basis for the MAIFIP guidelines that the department will issue before the end of February 2026),” he said.

Section 19 of the 2026 GAA, signed into law on Jan. 5, prohibits public officials, candidates, and their representatives from taking part in the distribution of financial assistance, allowing only those with direct administrative and executive authority over the implementing agency.

Last year, Caloocan Cardinal Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David raised moral and constitutional concerns over the expansion of the MAIFIP program under the proposed 2026 national budget, cautioning that its structure reinforces political patronage and weakens human dignity.