THE Department of Health (DOH) on Friday clarified that the zero-balance billing policy fully covers patients admitted to basic or ward accommodations in DOH hospitals regardless of a patient’s economic status, occupation, or PhilHealth contribution history.
Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Dr. Albert Domingo during an interview explained that any Filipino admitted to a DOH-run hospital under basic accommodation is entitled to zero out-of-pocket expenses for hospitalization.
“Even if you haven’t been contributing to PhilHealth, you’re still eligible under the Universal Health Care Act as an indirect contributor through taxes like sin tax,” Domingo said.
He added that the policy ensures that patients will not be billed for their stay, procedures, or required medical supplies while in basic accommodations.
However, he noted that if a patient requested to be transferred to a private room, the zero-balance billing policy no longer applies.
“There’s confusion when people think they need to be interviewed or assessed first before availing of zero-balance billing. That’s the old system. We don’t follow that anymore,” he said in response to differing interpretations of the policy.
The DOH reminded that not all public hospitals are under its direct control, with many operated by local governments or other government agencies.
“Not all public hospitals are DOH hospitals, but all DOH hospitals are public hospitals. That’s the main point of clarification,” he said.
Examples of non-DOH government hospitals include those run by local governments, the Department of National Defense, and government-owned and controlled corporations.
Four GOCC hospitals: Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, are in Metro Manila and not directly owned by DOH.
Meanwhile, DOH hospitals will assist unregistered individuals through the PhilHealth Point of Service program, which verifies and registers eligible patients on-site.
He assured the public that being a PhilHealth member does not require proof of income, employment, or indigency for basic accommodation coverage.
“People don’t avail of these programs not because the help isn’t there, but because they don’t know the benefits exist,” he concluded.
