Zero balance billing may cover some LGU hospitals by 2026 —DOH

Some local government unit (LGU) hospitals could be covered by the zero balance billing by 2026, as the Senate included a P1 billion budget for the program’s expansion during the Bicameral Conference Committee (bicam) meeting, the Department of Health (DOH) said Saturday.

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa Senate kasi sila ang nagpasok ng Zero Balance Billing Expansion to Local Government Unit hospitals. Sa diskusyon kagabi, mukhang magkakaroon ng P1 billion,” DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo told Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday.

(We’re thankful to the Senate for including the Zero Balance Billing Expansion for Local Government Unit hospitals. In last night’s discussion, it seems there will be a P1 billion allocation.)

Domingo explained that with the given budget, DOH can tap Level 3 LGU hospitals.

“Hindi pa tapos ang bicam. Kami ay nagdadasal na sana madagdagan, pero kung hindi madagdagan, mga 6 hanggang 8 na probinsiya, puwedeng pakyawin 'yung kama ng kanilang level 3 hospitals tapos 'yun na 'yung magiging zero balance biling,” he said.

(The bicam is not done yet. We are hoping that the allocation will increase, but if not, we can cover Level 3 hospitals of around 6 to 8 provinces for zero balance billing.)

In choosing the hospitals, Domingo said it is important that they have organized accounting and public management.

“'Yung mga candidate LGU ay Sarangani, Laguna, Aklan, at Benguet [at tinitingnan] 'yung Pampanga, Bataan, at Quezon,” he said.

(Our candidate LGUs are Sarangani, Laguna, Aklan, and Benguet, and we’re also looking at Pampanga, Bataan, and Quezon.)

“Ideally, P29 billion ang ilalagay sana sa programang 'yan, pero okay na rin sa amin ang P1 billion or so para ma-pilot test, masubukan ito by 2026,” he added.

(Ideally, P29 billion would have been allocated to that program, but we’re also okay with around P1 billion so it can be pilot-tested by 2026.)

Malacañang had said that more than 1,078,000 Filipinos have benefited from the government’s zero-balance billing policy in four months.

To avail of the zero-balance billing, patients must be admitted to the basic accommodation or ward for PhilHealth to foot 100% of the bill.

READ: Ano ang DOH zero-balance billing o libreng pa-ospital at paano ito magagamit?

PhilHealth added that they do not ask for any additional documentation from patients in DOH hospitals who avail of the zero-balance billing policy. —KG, GMA Integrated News