The chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means has called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to rationalize its standards for coverage.
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda made the statement amid reports that hospital fees triage care, including being cared for in tents set up by hospitals when they are full, will not be covered “due to lack of standards” for the fees.
“How can we lack so much common sense? And why is it the patient’s fault? It’s PhilHealth who sets the standards. And tents are merely extensions of hospitals. You are in a tent because the hospital proper cannot yet accommodate you, but you are being given hospital care. This is the height of bureaucratic absurdity,” Salceda said.
“If it’s in the hospital bill, whether it’s in the hospital building or a tent, it’s healthcare. This is so elementary. There will be a change in policy only because some congressman raises hell about it.”
“This is so exhausting. PhilHealth has to be proactive. They always knew hospitals were going to set up extensions because of overutilization. This is seriously frustrating,” Salceda added.
The lawmaker made the remarks in response to a statement by PhilHealth Acting SVP Neri Santiago that PhilHealth will not cover the bills incurred from hospital-built tents due to lack of standards for these procedures.
“How is it elementally different from being in some other hospital facility? When we argue over questions like this that could possibly discourage people from seeking medical care, we are harming the COVID-19 response,” Salceda said.
“I urge them to release standards on the matter immediately. I remind them that because they are an agency that charges payroll contributions, I have oversight of their agency,” he added.
Reports showed that hospitals charge up to P1,000 per day in these tents.
Salceda said his committee has the power to subpoena hospitals that overcharge, given the VAT exemptions for COVID-19 supplies and PPEs.
“I am also warning hospitals. Right now, we want medical facilities to focus on getting people well. But there will be a time after COVID-19 when we can subpoena your managers for abusive medical billing practices. So don’t push it,” Salceda said.