Ombudsman urges tighter oversight, legal action vs high hospital rates

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Saturday called for stronger government oversight and clearer judicial precedents in response to the high rates charged by some private hospitals.

In his radio program, Remulla criticized what he described as “bloated” emergency room charges.

“‘Yung mga ER expenses, laging bloated ‘yan. Kasi ang ER, minsan ang taas magbigay ng rates eh… sobrang mahal ng ER expenses. Kapag na-ER ka para kang nagulpi ulit,” he said.

(ER expenses are often bloated. Hospitals sometimes charge very high rates… ER services are very expensive. When you end up in the ER, it’s like you’ve been beaten again.)

Senator JV Ejercito, who was also on the program, said the Department of Science and Technology’s Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) should look into the pricing practices of some private hospitals.

“‘Yung PhilHealth, nandiyan dapat para sagutin. Kaya lang marami rin ang nagsasamantala na mga private hospitals na itaas ‘yung rates. ‘Yung HTAC… dapat tingnan din ito,” Ejercito said.

(PhilHealth should be there to cover the public’s expenses. However, some private hospitals are taking advantage by raising their rates. The HTAC… should also look into this.)

Remulla stressed that private hospitals must be closely monitored by the government.

“Dapat ang private hospitals, mabantayan nang husto ng government ‘yan,” he said.

He also underscored the need for more judicial precedents addressing malpractice and improper practices in the medical field.

“Kulang tayo sa judicial precedents sa malpractice tsaka wrongful behavior ng medical field,” Remulla added.

(We lack judicial precedents for malpractice and wrongful behavior in the medical field.)

Citing an example, Remulla pointed to discrepancies in billing for pneumonia cases.

“Example lang, case rate ng pneumonia. Pero kapag tiningnan mo ‘yung billing… matindi. Ang case rate dapat ‘yan PhilHealth na sasagot, pero ‘yung ibang fees na associated sa pneumonia, sobrang taas,” he said.

(For example, the case rate for pneumonia. But when you look at the patient’s billing, it’s very high. PhilHealth should cover the case rate, but other associated fees are excessive.)

In a statement sent to GMA News Online, PHAP President Dr. Jose Rene de Grano declined to comment on the issues raised by Remulla, saying he was unaware of the details of the allegations.

He urged Remulla and other aggrieved parties to file formal complaints through proper government channels.

“I think he can file his complaints to the DOH 1555 hotline rather than using the media if he has enough evidence for his complaints,” he said.—MCG, GMA News