PhilHealth probing over 8,000 cases of fraudulent acts —spokesperson

The spokesperson of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Friday said the allegation that a certain wellness center had been performing "ghost dialysis" is not an isolated matter.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Dr. Shirley Domingo said PhilHealth has been investigating more than 8,000 cases of fraudulent acts ranging from ghost patients, false claims and misrepresentation of patients.

"Hindi po isolated case 'to. Sabi ko nga earlier, our record showed that currently we are investigating up to 8,900 plus cases... that's pending in our investigation department... may mga ghost patients, false claims, misrepresentation, upcasing nakikita po namin 'yan," Domingo said.

Domingo clarified that on this particular case, there is no report yet that a PhilHealth employee conspired with the WellMed Dialysis & Laboratory Center Corp. in supposedly processing and benefiting from claims of deceased patients.

"Wala namang nireklamo na kasabwat sa PhilHealth but we are investigating a lot of cases and kung mayroon ngang kasabwat ay talagang mahahanap po natin 'yan at we will give necessary due process and penalty," Domingo said.

Domingo warned that the involved wellness center may lose its accreditation once the allegation against it is proven.

"Depende po 'yun sa findings and severity. At most, we can revoke their accreditation," she said.

PhilHealth earlier disclosed that they were able to monitor fraudulent acts involving WellMed. Their findings showed that 28 of the medical cases that have been filed involved dead patients while 12 others are under investigation.

Two former employees of WellMed, Edwin Roberto and Liezel Santos, were the ones who bared the alleged anomaly.

WellMed already denied the accusation.

"WELLMED and its owners did not and would not in any way consent to or participate in any ghost dialysis or fraudulent scheme as described by Mr. Roberto," Gargantiel Ilagan and Atanante Law Firm, counsel of WellMed, said. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News