BY CRIS DIAZ
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: A lawmaker urged Congress to investigate Philhealth on its failure to pay P59.6 billion hospital bills that led to closure of some hospitals and the displacement of medical personnel in the country.
Cong. Rufus Rodriguez, of Cagayan de Oro City, on Monday (Feb 3 2025), said that the ” non payment of claims have resulted in the partial closure of some medical services of hospitals, and in some cases the full closure of hospitals.”
He said that his Resolution No. 2173, filed on January 16, 2025, urged Congress to look into the hospital reimbursement claims of hospitals that the state insurer PhilHealth failed to pay.
Rodriguez that the result of the non payment led to termination of health workers, partial and full closure of some hospitals and likewise detrimental to Philhealth members in need of medical care.
is imperative that the House of Representatives investigate this non-payment of P59.6-billion worth of claims and also look into ways to help hospitals comply with the law in order for them to be paid by Philhealth,” he said..
Rodriguez said the failure of Philhealth to reimburse hospitals for the past seven years was revealed in a recent committee on health hearing.
He said that according to the Department of Budget and Management, Philhealth “has the following funds which are available to them: P150 billion in surplus reserve funds, P203 billion in estimated premium collection for 2025, P 80 billion in unfunded allotment of 2023 and 2024, (and) P 21 billion in unreleased appropriations.”
“It was also mentioned that Philhealth has around P280 billion in reserves and P 25 billion investment income in 2024.
All this would total P759 billion, which could be accessed to pay for valid claims of hospitals,” Rodriguez said.
“In spite of the P759 billion in accessible funds, P 59 billion is left unpaid to the detriment of the hospitals and Philhealth members served by said hospitals,” he said.
