‘Wag tagain sa gastos! Senators urge Philhealth: Cover expenses of patients in hospital tents

Six senators from the majority bloc called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to extend its coverage to patients waiting in hospital tents as the healthcare system remains overwhelmed due to the surge in COVID-19 cases.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Senators Nancy Binay, Sherwin Gatchalian, Sonny Angara, Grace Poe and Joel Villanueva said PhilHealth should come up with a standard policy and guidelines to cover patients staying in hospital tents while waiting for admission.

“We appeal to PhilHealth not to ignore the cries of families who have no recourse but to shell out their last money dahil hindi iko-cover ng PhilHealth ang mga pasyenteng nakapila sa ER o yung nasa mga temporary tent,” they said in a statement Saturday (April 3).

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Ferdinand Gaite earlier said he had received reports that some COVID-19 patients were being charged P1,000 per hour while waiting for admission in tents outside hospitals.

Several hospitals in Metro Manila and nearby provinces have declared full capacity amid the spike in COVID-19 cases. The Department of Health tallied a record high of 15,310 new cases on Friday (April 2).

In response to Gaite’s claim, Philhealth said its insurance policy does not cover a patient’s stay in non-accredited isolation units. The state-run agency vowed to investigate the lawmaker’s claim.

The six senators, however, said Philhealth is mandated to cover emergency and comprehensive outpatient services under the Universal Health Care Act of 2019 (Republic Act 11223).

“Considering the continued rise in Covid-related cases, PhilHealth cannot claim, as an excuse for its indifference, being drowned by bureaucracy or being choked financially. As a government corporation, it is its obligation to break the barriers and provide solutions in the midst of a health care coverage crisis,” they said.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)