Zero-balance billing boosts patient numbers, DOH plans local expansion

The Department of Health (DOH) said that the rate of patients seeking treatments has increased following the full implementation of zero-balance billing in government hospitals.

In a public briefing on Friday, DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo shared that there was a 10% to 15% increase in the number of patients once it was clear that the government shouldered the cost of their treatments.

The next step for DOH, according to Domingo, was to solve how to respond to the higher number of patients.

“Sosolusyonan natin kung paano ito through the BUCAS centers… Mayroon nang mga plano kung paano natin ito palalawigin sa local government units,” he shared.

(We will solve how this will happen through the BUCAS centers… We currently have plans on how to expand this to local government units.)

DOH shared that they intend to expand the Zero Balance Billing by increasing the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) budget of DOH hospitals in regional areas.

“Sa malalayong probinsya, nakita nga namin na meron mga Level 2 and Level 3 hospitals na LGU-owned. 55 yan. Yun yung tinitingnan namin kung paano siya mapupondohan. Mukhang makakayanan… galing sa flood control projects,” Domingo said.

(In farther provinces, we saw that there were Level 2 and Level 3 hospitals that are LGU-owned. There are 55 of those. That is what we are looking into: how we will fund it. I think we can… from the flood control projects.)

Earlier, part of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) previous flood control project funding under the House’s approved General Appropriations Bill had been redirected to the DOH.

A total of P49.2 billion had been provided for the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially-Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP).

See a list of hospitals that offer DOH’s Zero-Balance Billing program here. –NB, GMA Integrated News