PhilHealth asks Red Cross for understanding over delayed payment of debt

State insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) asked the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) for understanding for its delayed payment of millions of debts for COVID-19 tests.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday, PhilHealth spokesperson Rey Baleña said the state insurer has to comply with the accounting rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit in processing claims.

“Humihingi kami ng pang-unawa sa Philippine Red Cross at sa publiko pagdating sa bagay na ito na bagamat may three days deadline, pero alam niyo kailangan talaga isa-isahin namin bawat claim,” he said.

According to Baleña, the Department of Justice already expressed its opinion on the matter that PhilHealth should observe the accounting rules and regulations.

On Saturday, PRC chairperson Senator Richard Gordon said the debt of PhilHealth have piled up and reached P800 million due to its failure to pay on time.

“'Di puwede kasi kung kailan lang nila gusto magbayad dahil lalaki nang lalaki [ang utang]. Baka mapilitan kami itigil dahil bibili pa kami ng gamit tapos ime-maintain naman ang mga tao sa laboratoryo,” Gordon said.

“Nakikiusap [kami] sa kanila na mag-up-to-date sila dahil tutumba ang Red Cross dahil sa kanila,” he added.

Baleña said PhilHealth still has P635.4 million debt to PRC after it paid P2.8 billion for the conduct of COVID-19 tests.

“Ayon po sa aming tala po, may outstanding account po kami na P635.4 million at kasalukuyan na po itong pinoproseso. Thirty-eight percent dito pinoproseso na namin,’ he said.

According to him, PhilHealth is readying this week to pay a partial amount that could reduce its total debt to around P500 million. —KG, GMA News