Stiffer penalties await hospitals demanding deposits from emergency-case patients

The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a measure pushing for a “better and stronger” Anti-Hospital Deposit Law by imposing stiffer penalties and fines on hospitals who will demand advance payment from emergency-case patients.

Senate Bill No. 1353 approved with 18 affirmative votes will amend Republic Act No. 8344.

The bill would impose stricter penalties such as four to six years of imprisonment to erring hospitals who demand any deposit or other form of advance payment.

It also increases the fines for hospitals which refuse to administer basic emergency care from P100,000 to P1,000,000.

The measure principally authored by Senator Risa Hontiveros also gives authority to the Department of Health (DOH) to revoke the license of a health facility after three repeated violations.

"We have come one step closer today to our vision of universal health. Harinawa, sa batas na ito, wala nang mahirap na itataboy ng ospital. Wala nang pagkakaitan ng serbisyong pangkalusugan," Hontiveros said.

To investigate patient complaints and facilitate the filing of cases in court, the bill also proposes to establish a “Sumbungan Board” or a Health Facilities Oversight Board under the DOH.

The House of Representatives has approved its counterpart measure on May 2. — Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/RSJ, GMA News