Philhealth-7 releases over P1 billion to 50 HCIs under IRM

CEBU, Philippines — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) in Central Visayas has paid in advance over P1 billion to 50 accredited health care institutions in the region through the interim reimbursement mechanism last year.

As of May 31, 96.86% or P1,067,242,867.71 of the total amount has been liquidated. The data from Philhealth-7 show that 28 of the 50 institutions granted IRM has fully liquidated the amount they received, 15 of these are based in Cebu while the rest are from Bohol and Negros Oriental.

There were four institutions noted for low liquidation compliance while most are 50 to 99 percent compliant.

According to Philhealth, the IRM is a measure to provide HCIs with emergency funds during unforeseen events like natural disasters, calamities and other fortuitous events.

This mechanism, it said, was previously tapped to respond to disasters that ravaged parts of the country such as that experienced during typhoons Ondoy and Yolanda, and the Taal Volcano eruption.

 “To prepare for a coordinated response to the pandemic which started to unfold in March 2020, HCIs including dialysis centers and lying-in clinics nationwide were allowed to apply for IRM equivalent to their three months’ worth (90 days) of benefit claims in 2019,” the state health insurer said.

Philhealth said that in availing of the IRM, it is initiated by a letter of intent by the HCI and a signed Memorandum of Agreement, upon approval, between PhilHealth and the institution.

Being public funds, it said that the IRM is subject to stringent government accounting and auditing rules and therefore requires liquidation by its recipient facilities.

Liquidation of the IRM is by submission of a report to PhilHealth on the claims for patients that they have attended to during the period, Philhealth said. — FPL (FREEMAN)