Marcos touts ‘zero-balance billing’ at DOH hospitals

Patients no longer have to settle their balance when seeking treatment at Department of Health (DOH) hospitals, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Monday.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos announced that the government will cover all expenses incurred by Filipinos at DOH hospitals.

“Itinuloy na po natin ang zero-balance billing. Libre po. Ibig sabihin, ang serbisyo sa basic accommodation sa ating mga DOH hospital, wala nang babayaran ang pasyente dahil bayad na ang bill ninyo,” he said.

“Uulitin ko, wala nang kailangan bayaran ang pasyente basta sa DOH hospital dahil bayad na po ang bill ninyo,” he added.

(We will continue zero-balance billing. It's free. This means, for the services in the basic accommodation in our DOH hospitals, no payment is necessary because your bills have already been paid. I repeat, a patient will no longer have to make payments if they're in a DOH hospital because your bill will have already been paid.)

Earlier, the President said that he aspired to ease the burden of Filipino patients when it comes to out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Marcos said he had already been working with the Department of Health in terms of budget and overall improvements in the Philippine healthcare system.

Expanded PhilHealth benefits, health coverage

Marcos announced that in addition to opening more BUCAS health centers, the Philippine government is working to offer more benefit packages for Filipino patients.

“Lahat po tayo ay miyembro ng PhilHealth… Pinataas at pinaganda na rin natin ang mga benepisyo. Lalo na para sa mga karamdaman na laganap dito sa ating bansa,” he said.

(All of us are members of PhilHealth…The benefits have also been increased and improved. Especially for illnesses that have become common in the country.)

Among the new developments of the year, he said, is coverage for heart attacks, open-heart surgery, and heart-valve repairs or replacements.

Marcos added that under the Cancer Assistance Fund, the government allocated a P1.7 billion budget to cover cancer treatments that did not fall under the scope of PhilHealth.

On the topic of cancer, the President also said that the government had funded vaccinations against the human papillomavirus (HPV), the root cause of some types of cancer.

In addition to the increase in PhilHealth’s kidney transplant coverage to P2.1 million, Marcos announced that kidney dialysis and medication will be offered for free all-year round.

“Ngayong taon, covered na rin ng PhilHealth ang mga serbisyo at gamot pagkatapos ng operasyon ng kidney transplant. Kung kailangan talaga na magpa-transplant, huwag po kayong matakot sa gastos dahil sagot na ng PhilHealth,” he said.

(This year, PhilHealth has covered services and medication after kidney transplant operations. If there really is a need for transplant, let us not be scared of the costs because PhilHealth will cover all of it.)

PhilHealth has also increased its allocation for dengue to P47,000 and cataract removal to P180,000.

“Pati ang mga sari-saring serbisyong outpatient, kasama rin po ngayon [sa] PhilHealth. Kapag may kailangan kayong dalhin sa emergency, huwag po kayong mag-atubiling itakbo sa ospital. Covered na rin po 'yan ng PhilHealth,” Marcos urged.

(Even the various outpatient services will be included under PhilHealth. If there is a need to bring someone to the emergency room, do not hesitate to go to the hospital. PhilHealth will also cover that.)

“Pinabibilis pa natin ang proseso ng pagbayad ng PhilHealth sa mga ospital at mga klinika, para naman siguradong maayos at hindi naaantala ang kanilang serbisyo sa mga pasyente,” he added.

(We are rushing the process of PhilHealth payouts in hospitals and clinics, so we can make sure that it is appropriate and does not hinder their services for the patients). — BM, GMA Integrated News