Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Health workers from different hospitals gather in front of the Department of Health headquarters in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Wednesday. The group called for the resignation of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and slammed the department’s alleged failure to release all the benefits for health workers both in public and private facilities. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

HEALTH- COVID-19

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

<div> </div><div> </div>MANILA — Zero-balance billing will not just be limited to hospitals attached to the Department of Health, according Secretary Teodoro Herbosa. This, following the Senate’s amendment to the proposed General Appropriations Bill, which saw additional funding for the agency.If approved, Herbosa said the funding will be used to support local government hospitals. In a statement, DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo said zero-balance billing, through the additional funding, will be available in level three LGU-owned hospitals.A letter for Senate President Vicente Sotto III, signed by Herbosa, proposes how the no-balance billing will work for LGU hospitals. Among the conditions, according to the letter, is for level two and three LGU hospitals to have at least seventy percent of its Rural Health Units and other government-owned primary care facilities to be accredited under PhilHealth’s Yaman sa Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) and fifty percent of its population to have had first patient encounters for YAKAP. “The funding for each LGU shall be adjusted per capita and in consideration of available facilities and municipal class, subject to the guidelines issued by the DOH,” the letter read. Moreover, the DOH proposes that the release of funds to LGU hospitals shall be through level three DOH hospitals within the region. “The province or LGU shall enter into a legally binding agreement with the identified Level 3 DOH apex hospital for the release of funds or payment.”Speaking on DZMM’s PinaSigla, Herbosa said the additional funding is pegged at P1 billion.“May sinigit na P1 billion for zero-balance billing. Hopefully, pag naibigay yun, mamimili tayo ng mga deserving at bibigyan natin ng pondo para magawa rin yung zero-balance billing,” he said. So far, the DOH said over one million Filipinos have benefitted from the program.

So far, the DOH said over one million Filipinos have benefitted from the program.

So far, the DOH said over one million Filipinos have benefitted from the program.

DOH eyes zero-balance billing for LGU hospitals

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DOH eyes zero-balance billing for LGU hospitals

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 15, 2025 04:15 PM PHT

Read More:

Zero Balance Billing

Department of Health

General Appropriations Bill

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