Strengthened Anti-Hospital Deposit Law provides incentives to pro-poor hospitals

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday said the recently passed Anti-Hospital Deposit Law provides incentives to hospitals that treat poor and indigent patients.

According to a report on Unang Balita on Thursday, through Philhealth, hospitals can ask for reimbursement for its basic emergency care and transportation expenses incurred in treating poor patients.

Their additional expenses incurred in responding to patients are also tax-deductible if these are not reimbursed by Philhealth.

Hospitals which refuse to treat patients in emergency rooms due to the latter's lack of money will be penalized.

Those found requiring deposits from patients before they are treated may face a jail term of four to six years.

The fine will be P100,000 to P1 million for hospitals which do not give basic emergency care to patients.

Hospitals may also lose their licenses on the third offense. —KG, GMA News