7 Iloilo hospitals firm on cutting ties with PhilHealth

MANILA, Philippines — Seven hospitals in Iloilo City are bent on disengaging from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. Inc. (PhilHealth) starting Jan. 1 next year unless the state insurer pays up to 90 percent of their reimbursement claims.

Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAPi) president Jose Rene de Grano said the hospitals are no longer renewing their accreditation with PhilHealth because they are running out of funds for their operations.

“These hospitals wanted this issue resolved in favor of patients but they cannot operate even if they want to if PhilHealth will not pay their claims,” he said in a phone interview.

De Grano noted that PhilHealth owed the seven hospitals P545 million as of Aug. 31.

He said the hospitals are inclined to avail themselves of the Debit-Credit Payment Method program being offered by PhilHealth pending the processing of their claims.

“What the hospitals want is to be paid for the services they rendered to PhilHealth members.  They are only asking for what is due them,” De Grano said.

The hospitals are Iloilo Directors’ Hospital, Iloilo Mission Hospital, Medicus Medical Center, Metro Iloilo Hospital and Medical Center Inc., St. Paul’s Hospital of Iloilo, The Medical City Iloilo and Qualimed Hospital Iloilo.

The Far Eastern University–Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation (FEU-NRMF) Center had earlier announced that it would disengage with PhilHealth by Jan 1.

As of Nov. 30, FEU-NRMF’s collectibles with Philhealth reached P200 million.

The FEU-NRMF said non-payment of its claims is in violation of the National Health Insurance Act.

The law states that PhilHealth must process, review and pay the claims of providers within a period not exceeding 60 days.

De Grano had earlier said more hospitals in General Santos, Quezon province, Isabela and Metro Manila are expected to cut their ties with PhilHealth.

He said PHAPi has been negotiating with PhilHealth in the past three months but no clear and concrete solutions were offered to them.