The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. promised that it would double its efforts to pay the unpaid claims of private hospitals before December this year.
The PhilHealth made the commitment, amid the plan of some private hospitals in Metro Manila and other provinces to cut ties with the state insurer following its failure to settle the payments of hospital claims in October.
It also came after Malacañang pressed PhilHealth to fulfill its financial obligations with hospitals.
During the Laging Handa briefing, PhilHealth spokesperson Rey Baleña, Jr. ensured the agency is doing its best to expedite the process of paying the reimbursement claims of private hospitals, most of which are for services rendered to Covid-19 patients.
“PhilHealth is exhausting all efforts to release the unpaid claims. Hospitals can expect the release of claims, especially those Covid-19 claims,” Baleña said.
He said PhilHealth is merely taking time to validate the reimbursement claims to make sure these are sans deficiencies and compliant with all pertinent policies and requirements of the program.
Quizzed if the unpaid claims of private hospitals would be resolved before December, Baleña said, “Dapat po.”
Baleña said PhilHealth has yet to receive a formal notification from some private hospitals that want to sever ties with the agency.
He, nevertheless, expressed hope that private hospitals would reconsider their plan to disengage from PhilHealth.
Baleña issued the statement as he acknowledged that some private hospitals’ possible cutting of ties with PhilHealth would have a “serious” impact on the country’s health care system.
“We have not received any letter of notice that they would no longer renew their accreditation in January 2022. We are hoping that some hospitals would reconsider their plan to disengage from PhilHealth,” Baleña said. – PNA
