March 29, 2024

Benguet Rep. Eric Yap has sought the release of P80 million as medical assistance fund to the Benguet General Hospital following the suspension of its accreditation from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). 

The fund, sourced out from Department of Health,will be released anytime soon, according to Yap.

PhilHealth has imposed a three-month suspension on BeGH from Sept. 1 to Nov. 29 due to a 2011 administrative offense.

The suspension of BeGH accreditation stemmed from a PhilHealth decision dated Oct. 18, 2011 which found the hospital liable for administrative offense of “extending period of confinement” under Section 142, Rule 28 of the implementing rules and regulation of the National Health Insurance Act.

This is in relation to item 42 of the warranties of accreditation and is meted with the penalty of suspension for three months and a fine of P10,000.

The BeGH management has appealed the decision on Oct. 8, 2012, but was denied by the PhilHealth board through Resolution 2065-2016. The decision became final and executory on April 3, 2016.

On Dec. 10, 2020, BeGH received an order from PhilHealth granting the issuance of Writ of Execution of the 2011 decision.

The decision included a fine of P10,000 and the suspension of accreditation for three months starting March 15, 2021 until June 12, 2021

The suspension was deferred last year when Yap called on the DOH to inform that many patients rely on PhilHealth, especially as the province’s funds were depleted due to the pandemic. The PhilHealth Board of Directors has considered the appeal.

“So, I ask PhilHealth, what changed? Nasa pandemic pa din tayo and bumaba pa nga ang pondo ng provincial government,” Yap said.

Benguet, through the provincial board,has appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to lift the suspension order, as this will deprive the people from availing the national health insurance program and will affect the implementation of the Universal Health Care Law.

It also proposed that the penalty of three months suspension be converted into a fine and to be added to the penalty of fine already imposed against the hospital. The Office of the President has not yet replied to the request of the provincial government. – Ofelia C. Empian