PhilHealth told: Raise case rate payments

A PARTY-LIST lawmaker is calling on the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to increase their current case rates across the board, noting that its rates were insufficient in helping patients.

Tingog Party-List Rep. Jude Acidre noted that while PhilHealth's case rate system was introduced to simplify the reimbursement process for health care providers and ensure timely and financial support for patients, their case rates had been «misaligned» or [at variance] with the rising costs of health care services in the country.

He also said the practice of «pay whichever is lower» in the current case rate system adds a financial burden to patients as this forces them to pay a large portion of their hospital bills even after availing their PhilHealth benefits.

To resolve these issues, the Tingog Party-list has urged the state health insurer to implement a 20 percent increase in its case rates as a solution until a thorough study is completed.

«This aims to eradicate the out-of-pocket expenses of patients and align benefits with the rising costs of health care services, avoiding the inflationary surge in prices,» Acidre said.

In addition, he said that these solutions will open quality health care access for all, which necessitates the partnership among PhilHealth, private health care providers, and other medical facilities.

«The call for price stability commitments from health care providers and facilities aims to maintain market stability,» Acidre said.

He said this approach would set off a «more sustainable and accessible» quality health care system for every Filipino citizen.