Duterte told PhilHealth to expedite payments to Red Cross, hospitals

President Rodrigo Duterte has instructed PhilHealth to expedite the payment of its obligations with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) as well as with healthcare providers and institutions with valid claims, Senator Bong Go said Wednesday.

In a statement, Duterte's former special assistant said the President called PhilHealth chief Dante Gierran to fast-track their processes and ensure that there would be no delay in the payment of its dues.

Go said he also talked personally to Gierran about PhilHealth's dues with PRC, and asked him to expedite its payment.

"Mabilis at nakakatulong po ang COVID-19 testing sa Red Cross at ang iba pa nilang serbisyo sa mga kababayan natin. Kailangan natin sila para ma-achieve ang target na mas maraming testing kada araw,” Go said.

[Red Cross' COVID-19 tests are quick and helpful, as well as their other services to the people. We need them to achieve our target of more tests every day.]

Go said PhilHealth should fulfill its financial obligations in a timely manner to ensure the stability of the country's healthcare system.

In a separate statement, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the prompt settlement of dues to hospitals would ensure “continuous delivery of healthcare services, especially in identified areas of concern, amid the rising number of coronavirus active cases."

In addition, Roque said that the President’s order for expedited payment of hospital claims cover only those health care facilities which do not have remaining Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM) fund.

Likewise, these hospitals should be attending to COVID-19 patients or providing the COVID-19 testing package and that their accreditation is not suspended during the applicable period.

Senator Richard Gordon, who chairs PRC, earlier said that PhilHealth now owes the humanitarian organization some P876 billion over its COVID-19 testing efforts.

"Aside from replenishing our testing supplies, at the same time, we are going into this because there is a need to make sure that our people are safe in their homes, that the asymptomatic will be taken out to isolation facilities where they will be taken care of,” Gordon said.

Back in October last year, PRC halted conducting COVID-19 tests chargeable to the PhilHealth after the latter failed to settle its outstanding balance amounting to nearly P1 billion.

PRC has since resumed testing after PhilHealth settled half of the balance. --Llanesca Panti/NB/LDF, GMA News