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Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) manually process their members’ transactions at PhilHealth National Capital Region Central Branch in Quezon City on Tuesday, September 28, following the shutdown of their online system due to a cyberattack last week. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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PHILHEALTH

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172233545625720230926-philhealth office-MT-3.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) manually process their members’ transactions at PhilHealth National Capital Region Central Branch in Quezon City on Tuesday, September 28, following the shutdown of their online system due to a cyberattack last week. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) manually process their members’ transactions at PhilHealth National Capital Region Central Branch in Quezon City on Tuesday, September 28, following the shutdown of their online system due to a cyberattack last week. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — After increasing the contribution rate from 4 percent to 5 percent early this year, PhilHealth now said it will recommend to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to bring down the amount.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/01/12/24/philhealth-contribution-to-rise-to-5-pct-this-year">• PhilHealth to push through with contribution hike this year</a></div><p>During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, PhilHealth President Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. agreed with Committee chairperson Senator Bong Go that contributions must be reduced.</p><p>“I agree with you po 100 percent, in fact we will recommend to President Marcos that we bring down the premium rates,” Ledesma said. </p><p>“As early as this afternoon I will convene our team and we will recommend for a reduction in the premium rates, contribution rates to President Marcos.”</p><div><strong>RETURN OF ALMOST P90 BILLION<br/></strong></div><p>In the hearing of the said Committee, senators also questioned the transfer of P89.9 billion of PhilHealth’s fund back to the national treasury. </p><p>According to Go, the money could have been used for the benefits of PhilHealth members.</p><p>“Hindi katanggap-tanggap na may pondo diyan na hindi nagamit para matulungan bawat Pilipino na miymebro ng PhilHealth,” Go said. </p><p>“Bakit kailangan ibalik ang P90 billion?”</p><p>(It is not acceptable that there is funding that was not used to help every member of Philhealth. Why was there a need to give back the P90B?)</p><p>Senator Raffy Tulfo said PhilHealth should think of ways on how to use the fund.</p><p>“Bago kayo magsoli ng pera, pag-isipan niyo muna ang puwede paggamitan ng pera. Nagpapakita ito na kayo ay incompetent, di niyo ginagawa nang maayos ang inyong trabaho. Wala kayong diskarte at di kayo nag-iisip,” Tulfo said.</p><p>(Before you return money, think of what you can use the money for. You are showing that you are incompetent, you are not doing your job properly. You do not strategize and do not think.)</p><p>According to Department of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, the reversion of fund is legal and is provided for under the General Appropriations Act, which says unused funds can be given back.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/4/7/philhealth-s-expanded-breast-cancer-benefits-offer-hope-to-some-1712">• PhilHealth&#x27;s expanded breast cancer benefits offer hope to some</a></div><p>Recto clarified, however, that only P20 billion has been remitted so far, which was used by government to fund the Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) of COVID frontliners.</p><p>The remaining amount will be used for unprogrammed appropriations such as the Metro Manila Subway Project and routine maintenance of national roads.</p><p>“To fund the unprogrammed appropriations, Congress determined that there is another way aside from new taxes as well as debts. At ito ay sa pamamagitan ng pagkolekta sa mga natutulog at hindi nagagamit na pera ng GOCCs na binabayaran pa natin ng interest (And this is through the collection of unused funds of GOCCs which we pay interest for),” Recto said.  </p><p>He also said they will not touch the contributions of members and that their benefits will not be affected.</p><p>Ledesma said they will not go bankrupt since they still have P500 billion.</p><p>Health advocates criticized the move to transfer PhilHealth’s unused fund.</p><p>Dr. Tony Leachon said this violates the Universal Health Care Act.</p><p>“In accordance with Section 11 of the Universal Health Care Act, the purported excess fund must be used to alleviate the plight of indigent patients in our health facilities and reduce PhilHealth contribution,” Leachon said.</p><p>Dr. Antonio Dans, spokesperson of the Healthcare Profession Alliance Against COVID-19, said “PhilHealth is an insurance fund it is not a bank. We cannot withdraw our premiums.”</p><div><strong>BENEFIT PACKAGES</strong></div><p>Go also suggested an increase in benefit packages.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/28/philhealth-may-double-dialysis-package-to-p5-200-1741">• PhilHealth may double dialysis package to P5,200</a></div><p>According to Ledesma, they have been aggressive in enhancing the packages which currently number to more than 9,000.</p><p>“Last Feb. 14 when we increased the case rate packages, it was almost across the board which means all 9,000 case rates, almost all were adjusted,” Ledesma said. </p><p>“And now we are in the middle of studying another round of 30 percent. That 30 percent is across the board.”</p><p>In the said hearing, the United Private Hospital Unions of the Philippines said several hospitals still have not received their HEA.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/482B4aceT0s?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>After increasing the contribution rate from 4 percent to 5 percent early this year, PhilHealth now said it will recommend to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to bring down the amount.</p>

After increasing the contribution rate from 4 percent to 5 percent early this year, PhilHealth now said it will recommend to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to bring down the amount.

PhilHealth to recommend decrease in contribution

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PhilHealth to recommend decrease in contribution

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 30, 2024 07:04 PM PHT

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