By Analou De Vera
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) said a hospital in Bacolod City that has closed down was "responsible for its own closure."
PhilHealth logo
(MANILA BULLETIN) Last Wednesday, the Bacolod Our Lady of Mercy Specialty Hospital (BOLMSH) ceased operation reportedly after Philhealth refused to accredit it. The hospital’s closure “is a decision that was made by its own management and not by PhilHealth nor of the government," the agency said in a statement. "It can continue to exist and operate to serve its local constituencies and for the welfare of its employees if it wants to, even without its accreditation with PhilHealth," it added. The closure is said to have left at least 400 employees without jobs. There were reports that the PhilHealth erred by attributing alleged fraudulent activities committed by the hospital's former management, Tiong Bi Inc., to the current management, Negros Healthcare Management Systems Inc. (NHMSI). But the agency said NHMSI “cannot evade liability on the ground that the violations were committed by previous management, Tiong Bi Inc." The agency said that under the National Health Insurance Act of 2013 (Republic Act 7875), "change in ownership, management or any form if transfer either by lease, mortgage, or any other transfer of a health care institution without prior notice to the Corporation is enough ground for PhilHealth to uphold the decision of its Accreditation Committee." PhilHealth said the hospital’s application for accreditation was denied because it was convicted for padding claims, misrepresentation by furnishing false or incorrect information, and breach of warranties of accreditation/ performance. "Once health care institutions partner with PhilHealth for the implementation of the National Health Insurance Program, they commit to abide by the policies that PhilHealth institutes, and any violation of this commitment may be considered as grounds for the non-renewal of their accreditation," it said.
PhilHealth logo(MANILA BULLETIN) Last Wednesday, the Bacolod Our Lady of Mercy Specialty Hospital (BOLMSH) ceased operation reportedly after Philhealth refused to accredit it. The hospital’s closure “is a decision that was made by its own management and not by PhilHealth nor of the government," the agency said in a statement. "It can continue to exist and operate to serve its local constituencies and for the welfare of its employees if it wants to, even without its accreditation with PhilHealth," it added. The closure is said to have left at least 400 employees without jobs. There were reports that the PhilHealth erred by attributing alleged fraudulent activities committed by the hospital's former management, Tiong Bi Inc., to the current management, Negros Healthcare Management Systems Inc. (NHMSI). But the agency said NHMSI “cannot evade liability on the ground that the violations were committed by previous management, Tiong Bi Inc." The agency said that under the National Health Insurance Act of 2013 (Republic Act 7875), "change in ownership, management or any form if transfer either by lease, mortgage, or any other transfer of a health care institution without prior notice to the Corporation is enough ground for PhilHealth to uphold the decision of its Accreditation Committee." PhilHealth said the hospital’s application for accreditation was denied because it was convicted for padding claims, misrepresentation by furnishing false or incorrect information, and breach of warranties of accreditation/ performance. "Once health care institutions partner with PhilHealth for the implementation of the National Health Insurance Program, they commit to abide by the policies that PhilHealth institutes, and any violation of this commitment may be considered as grounds for the non-renewal of their accreditation," it said.