PhilHealth denies owing hospitals billions of pesos

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) denied owing private hospitals billions of pesos, saying that unpaid claims will be settled within 60 days as the law mandates.

Dr. Gigi Domingo, spokesperson for Philhealth, issued the statement in response to the claims by Dr. Rustico Jimenez, president of Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAP), that the state-run firm that administers the national health insurance program owes them as much as P6 billion.

“At the moment, there are one million number of claims and 70 percent of these worth P7.3 billion will be processed within 60 days [since the claim was filed]. Our average turnover time is 33 days. Of course, nagpa-process pa kami. 'Yung P6 billion 'di namin alam kung saan niya kinuha iyon. Sa data namin, wala namang ganun.” Domingo said in a phone interview with GMA News Online on Monday.

“The remaining claims are those referred back to hospitals kasi may requirements, or documents na kulang, or those [claims which were] denied. Maraming rason kung bakit 'di napaprocess,” Domingo added.

Domingo also warned the PHAP against resorting to drastic measures such as threatening to severe their PhilHealth accreditation over supposed unpaid claims.

“Hindi dapat ganito ang approach na counter productive. May threat pa na mag pull out [sila]. Eh hindi po Philhealth, hindi po ospital ang kawawa rito [pag nagkaganun eh]. Ang kawawa po rito ang taumbayan,” she said.

Instead of making bold statements, Domingo urged the PHAP to touch base with PhilHealth.

“Mag-usap sana kami, mag reconcile kami ng figures. Lagi naman kami nag-uusap. Yung PHAP, kausap ang Presidente namin nung October. We attend their conventions kung saan-saan. Open naman lahat ng lines ng communication. Member pa nga ang PHAP ng accreditation committee namin,” Domingo said. — LDF, GMA News