DOH TO PILOT ZERO BALANCE BILLING IN LGU HOSPITALS IN 5 PROVINCES

The Department of Health (DOH) is set to pilot the zero balance billing program in provincial hospitals being run by local government units to eliminate out-of-pocket medical expenses for eligible patients.

With a P448 billion DOH budget for this year, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said the department is set to expand President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s policy on zero balance billing for patients admitted in basic or ward accommodation in DOH hospitals.

In a press briefing in Malacañang on Wednesday, Herbosa said P1 billion would be allocated this year to implement the zero balance billing program in select secondary and tertiary LGU hospitals.

“We have actually selected provinces that have actually fulfilled their commitments to universal health coverage and these are Sarangani, Laguna, Aklan – there are about five of them, ipa-prioritize ko sila,” Herbosa said.

Herbosa said the pilot phase would be implemented in Level 2 and Level 3 LGU hospitals that offer specialized medical services.

“For the Level 1 hospitals, ang feeling namin kaya na siyang i-support noong increased benefits of PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corporation). So, alam iyon ng local chief executives. But for LGUs that have Level 2 and Level 3 hospitals, ito iyong mas complex procedures and higher cost of care, sila iyong gagamitin nating pilot,” he explained.

Herbosa also said the DOH will prioritize LGU hospitals in provinces that have no DOH hospitals.

“For the rest of the LGUs, puwede pa rin namin silang tulungan per patient basis through the MAIFIP,” the DOH chief said, referring to the Medical Assistance for Indigents and Financially Incapacitated Patients to cover medical costs beyond what PhilHealth covers.

Herbosa said DOH hospitals would enter into formal agreements with LGU hospitals to accept patients who could not be accommodated in the basic accommodation of DOH hospitals.

“So, ang mangyayari dito I will ask my medical center chiefs to have a memorandum of agreement with an LGU hospital and kung puno iyong DOH hospital, papalipatin namin sila sa LGU hospital pero sasagutin namin, zero balance iyong pasyente doon,” he said.

“So, the fund continues to support our Filipinos na magpapa-basic accommodation,” Herbosa further said.

The DOH said around a million patients have benefitted from the zero balance billing program since President Marcos ordered its strict implementation during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 28.