The House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations has directed Health Secretary Ted Herbosa to issue an administrative circular reiterating the no-balance billing for indigent patients admitted to all government hospitals.
The appeal came after Rep. Paul Daza of Northern Samar asked Herbosa during a congressional hearing about the compliance of national government and local government hospitals with the “no balance billing, no out-of-pocket policy.”
“From the DOH side, as long as they are indigent and they are admitted to a DOH hospital, the policy is a no-balance billing,” Herbosa said in response.
Daza said the policy must also apply to indigent patients who were transferred to private rooms because of the unavailability of beds in the ward section.
For her part, House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin cited the need for Herbosa to issue an administrative circular on the subject
Under PhilHealth Circular 2017-0006, eligible patients admitted in ward-type accommodation shall be covered by the NBB policy.
The policy states that no other fees or expenses shall be charged or paid for by indigent patients above and beyond the package rates during their confinement period.
