Aquino forms group to probe PhilHealth discrimination cases

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III has formed a technical working group to investigate claims some hospitals are discriminating against poor patients availing of services with Philippine Health Insurance Corporation's health insurance cards. Radio dzBB’s Allan Gatus reported Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman had received complaints of such discrimination involving private hospitals. Soliman said President Aquino, who led the launching of a nationwide PhilHealth registration program last Saturday, has formed a technical working group to study such complaints of discrimination. But for now, she did not name the private hospitals accused of such discriminatory practices, the report said. Last Saturday, Aquino headed the launching of the PhilHealth Sabado registration program, where PhilHealth desks will be put up in Department of Health (DOH) regional offices, public schools, municipal halls, community halls, and DOH-retained hospitals nationwide. Aquino urged poor families to be aware of their rights to health insurance. He said it was unacceptable that many Filipinos are not aware of their rights and benefits under the PhilHealth health insurance program. The nationwide registration is targeting Filipino citizens who are at least 21 years of age and non-members of the program. It is also open to 18- to 20-year-olds who may need to register; existing contributors who are still unregistered; those not issued their PhilHealth Number Card or Family Health Card yet; and those already registered but who may want to update their membership profile with PhilHealth. The DOH said the undertaking is part of Aquino's campaign promise to have 100-percent health insurance coverage in three years. — LBG, GMANews.TV