PhilHealth scrambling to address COVID-19 test payment issue with Red Cross

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is scrambling to address payment  issues with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) after it stopped its COVID-19 testing chargeable to the state insurer due to mounting debts.

In a statement on Thursday, PhilHealth recognized Red Cross as an "important partner" which was already paid a total of P1.6 billion for at least 433,623 tests.

"It is in close coordination with the PRC to thresh out issues pertaining to the said partnership so the PRC can immediately resume accommodating RT-PCR tests for priority sectors that will be paid for by PhilHealth," the statement read.

"In the meantime, it is requesting that specimens from affected sectors be submitted to other accredited testing laboratories to be able to avail of PhilHealth benefits," it added.

Earlier in the day, the Red Cross said it will no longer accept tests chargeable to PhilHealth, and will only complete the testing of specimens submitted until October 14.

The cessation of PhilHealth-funded COVID-19 testing, the PRC said, will stay in place until the overdue balance of P930.993 million is paid.

Under its mandate, PhilHealth is tasked to administer the National Health Insurance Program which aims to provide health insurance coverage and ensure affordable, acceptable, available, and accessible health care services for all citizens of the Philippines.

PhilHealth and its officials are under investigation, with at least five audits ongoing, over the agency's alleged overpriced purchase of an information technology system worth over P2 billion.

In a previous Senate hearing, resigned anti-fraud officer Thorsson Montes Keith claimed that the PhilHealth "mafia," composed of the executive committee, stole some P15 billion through fraudulent schemes such as the interim reimbursement mechanism (IRM).

PhilHealth, in a statement, has since denied such claims and has since suspended the IRM.—AOL, GMA News