Camille Naredo

Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) manually process their members’ transactions at PhilHealth National Capital Region Central Branch in Quezon City on Tuesday, September 28

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. 
PhilHealth advise their members and their qualified dependents to present a copy of their PhilHealth identification card, member data record, or other supporting documents to access health benefits amid the temporary shutdown of its online system.Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

PHILHEALTH

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173445016179220230926-philhealth office-MT-3.jpg" style="width:960px" 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. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File"/>Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) manually process their members’ transactions at PhilHealth National Capital Region Central Branch in Quezon City on Tuesday, September 28. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA – AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to expedite the expansion of benefits and higher case rate packages.During the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. appealed to lawmakers for patience as they review and change their policies.Ledesma&#x27;s appeal was questioned by Lee, who asked what is the cause behind the alleged delays.&quot;Hindi ko matanggap na wala tayong paraan para bilisan ito. Kailangan ba araw-araw kayo magmeeting para magawa ito? Yun ang hindi ko matanggap. A little more patience? Anong kapalit, more patients dying? Kung lagi na lang magtitiis sa napakabagal na dagdag na benepisyo, baka lagi nang ma-zero ang subsidy ng PhilHealth,&quot; he said. The PhilHealth executive assured lawmakers that change is underway in the state-run health insurer.&quot;We hear you loud and clear, we are working as fast as we can. Maybe to add, mister chair, we are also about to undergo a major reorganization in PhilHealth because we will be increasing our manpower.  We are trying as fast as we can to increase our accredited facilities, I’d like to think mister chair, I understand all of the impatience and everyone wants to get things resolved,&quot; Ledesma said.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/17/philhealth-board-disapproves-almost-p38-m-from-anniversary-celebration-budget-2145">READ: Philhealth board disapproves almost P38 million from anniversary celebration budget</a></div>Ledesma said they are boosting their complement manpower workforce from 10,000 to 13,000.Lee also floated the possibility of removing PhilHealth as an attached agency of the Department of Health, if problems continue to persist in the state-run health insurer.&quot;Kung magpapatuloy ang zero subsidy dahil sa kawalan o mabagal na benefit enhancement at malaking investible funds ng PhilHealth, di maibibigay sa mga Pilipino ang nararapat na kalinga. Without a clear and actionable plan and clear coordination between the DOH and PhilHealth, we are simply perpetuating a broken system that will only deepen the suffering of our people,&quot; he said. &quot;Kung hindi ito kayang ayusin ng DOH at PhilHealth ngayon, baka panahon na para tingnan natin kung kailangan bang ihiwalay ang PhilHealth, ilagay sa Office of the President mismo…. Wala pong dapat mamuno diyan kungi ang ating Presidente,&quot; Lee added.The congressman pointed to the delays in PhilHealth as the reason why the Bicameral Conference Committee decided not to earmark subsidy for it in the 2025 budget.Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo shared the sentiment on the supposed delays, while doubting PhilHealth&#x27;s capacity to implement the National Health Insurance Program.&quot;Ano ang dahilan kung bakit naka-accumulate ang PhilHealth ng sobra-sobrang pera at naging investment bank ang PhilHealth. Sa halip na health insurance program, ang pinapatupad ng PhilHealth ngayon ay investment program,&quot; she said. &quot;Ang bagal ng benefit expansion. Napakatipid ang pagtaas ng case rates. Ang bagal-bagal ng pagbayad sa hospitals, in which case, malaki po ang utang sa hospitals. Napakadaming problema sa implementation. Ano yung proof na kaya natin tumalon from 155 billion in benefit spending to 445 billion in 2025?&quot; Quimbo asked.Ledesma clarified the target for this year is about P160 billion, while for 2025 it will be P271 billion.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/17/coa-flags-philhealth-anew-over-data-management-mess-resulting-in-oversubsidy-1258">READ: COA flags PhilHealth anew over data management mess resulting in &#x27;oversubsidy&#x27;</a></div>&quot;I think it&#x27;s doable because we&#x27;ve already factored in benefit expansion and increase,&quot; he said. Earlier in the hearing, Quimbo slammed PhilHealth for the figures it was giving in response to queries on total amount of indirect contributions.&quot;Your failure to produce an actuary fair premium for these sectors ang pinagmumulan ng problema natin. You don&#x27;t know how to run a health insurance program. Yun po ang problema natin. Yun ang problema natin. At yun ang dahilan kung bakit kayo merong zero subsidy. Pasensya na po,&quot; she said.The PhilHealth Board of Directors approved a P284 billion corporate operating budget for 2025, following the zero-government subsidy for indirect contributions.The board also approved another increase in select cases rates worth 50 percent.

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to expedite the expansion of benefits and higher case rate packages.

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to expedite the expansion of benefits and higher case rate packages.

PhilHealth urged to expedite expansion of benefits, smoother payments

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PhilHealth urged to expedite expansion of benefits, smoother payments

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 17, 2024 11:45 PM PHT

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