De Lima seeks Senate probe into PhilHealth’s alleged failure to reimburse hospitals

A Senate investigation into the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation's (PhilHealth) alleged failure to release insurance claims to accredited hospitals is needed as the country continues to wrestle with the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Leila De Lima said Wednesday.

She recently filed Senate Resolution No. 461 as she underscored that this supposed irregularity involving the state health insurer could endanger the financial status of hospitals responding to the outbreak.

"The serious allegations of mismanagement and fraud hounding PhilHealth pose serious threats not only to the financial performance and sustainability of the corporation but to its capacity to provide essential health services to the public and to address the health problems posed by the COVID-19 pandemic," De Lima said.

Citing a previous complaint of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPI) on the matter in October 2019, De Lima said many health facilities even threatened to cut ties with PhilHealth over unpaid claims.

Last month, the PHAPI also warned that some hospitals may possibly stop operations due to unpaid reimbursements by PhilHealth.

De Lima also demanded accountability from the state health insurer on the corporation’s operational losses amounting to P154 billion since 2013.

"It is imperative to determine where and how the funds were spent, as well as address the numerous corruption issues at PhilHealth and exact accountability from its leadership," she said.

PhilHealth President and CEO Ricardo Morales previously denied corruption allegations as he said that there are no large-scale collusion efforts to defraud the corporation.

Last month, Cagayan De Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez filed a resolution urging PhilHealth to settle around P18 billion unpaid reimbursement claims of accredited hospitals across the country. — BM, GMA News