The PhilHealth Cordillera has clarified it did not order the closure of some hospitals in Baguio as earlier publicized.
In a statement, PhilHealth Acting Regional Vice President Imelda Cristeta Villamar clarified the agency does not have the authority to close hospitals or terminate their license to operate since this action resides with the Department of Health.
Villamar, however, said PhilHealth has imposed penalties of revocation of accreditation and fine totaling P8.46 million for 85 counts of administrative offense on a certain private hospital in the city.
She said the PhilHealth board imposed said penalties after finding the facility breached its performance commitment with PhilHealth when it failed to comply with Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, DOHAdministrative Order 2012-007 on the guidelines on the grant of 20 percent discount to senior citizens on health related goods and services and for other purposes, and PhilHealth Circular 056, s. 2012 on the grant of senior citizen discount to PhilHealth patients.
The decision of the PhilHealth Board may still be appealed to higher courts.
Villamar said the PhilHealth Arbitration Office has also revoked the accreditation of another private hospital in the city, but it may still appeal to the PhilHealth Board within 15 calendar days from receipt of the decision.
PhilHealth also earlier imposed a three-month suspension on the accreditation of the Benguet General Hospital from Sept. 1 to Nov. 29 due to an administrative offense in 2011, which stemmed from a PhilHealth decision dated Oct. 18, 2011 that found the hospital is liable for administrative offense of extending period of confinement under Section 142, Rule 28 of the implementing rules and regulations of the National Health Insurance Act as amended by Republic Act 9241.
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.
Benguet has appealed to Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to lift the suspension.
Last year, it also appealed the decision to former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte but PhilHealth issued a writ of execution reiterating the implementation of the suspension after it was considered by the PhilHealth Board. – Hanna C. Lacsamana
April 26, 2024
