CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Seventeen private hospitals in Pampanga signed on Oct. 23 with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and the Department of Health a tripartite memorandum of agreement to strengthen the implementation of the No Balance Billing (NBB) Program in the province.
PhilHealth president and CEO Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho and Health Secretary Dr. Edwin Mercado led the signing ceremony at the Kingsborough International Convention Center here in partnership with the Provincial Government of Pampanga, to expand access to healthcare benefits under the RA 11223 (Universal Health Care Act).
Both Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda and Vice Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda attended the signing to underscore the significance of the MOA to their constituents.
“I watched President Marcos during the MOA signing with St. Luke’s Medical Center. When Kapampangans saw it, many commented, ‘Sana all!’ We hope this will also be implemented in our province.’ We are very grateful that Pampanga is among the provinces where this program is being implemented,” enthused the governor.
Records from the Governor’s Medical Assistance Office show that the Provincial Government of Pampanga, in coordination with national government agencies, provided more than P1.5 billion in medical and financial assistance to 38,867 beneficiaries from June 2025 to July 2026.
The 17 participating hospitals are Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Medical Center, Inc.; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel – Clark; Rosario Medical Center (Guagua); Dr. Amando Garcia Medical Center; St. John Paul II Medical Center Corp.; AC Sacred Heart Hospital; GreenCity Medical Center; Holy Trinity Medical Center, Inc.; Mother Teresa of Calcutta Medical Center; Pampanga Premier Medical Center, Inc.; Apalit Doctor’s Hospital, Inc.; Asccom Medical Center; E.D. Lim Medical Center; Leonardo R. Manabat Sr. Hospital, Inc.; Our Lady of Rosary Hospital; San Fernandino Hospital; and HTC Specialty Clinic and Diagnostic Laboratory.
Under the law, private hospitals are required to allocate at least 10% of their total bed capacity for basic or ward accommodations, where qualified patients may avail themselves of the NBB Program, subject to PhilHealth policies and guidelines.
The initiative aims to provide more Kapampangans with access to quality medical services without the financial burden of additional covered hospitalization expenses. Although the NBB policy has been in place for more than a decade, PhilHealth, in coordination with the provincial government and DOH, is strengthening its implementation and monitoring through the agreement.
DOH data presented during the event showed private hospitals in Pampanga have a combined capacity of 1,951 beds, while public hospitals account for 1,760 beds.
“The NBB Program of PhilHealth started in 2010. Under this policy, PhilHealth members admitted to basic or ward accommodations in private hospitals should no longer have to pay out of pocket for covered medical expenses during hospitalization. They should no longer have to worry about these expenses because PhilHealth will cover them,” PhilHealth official spokesperson Dr. Alfred Phillip De Dios said.
PhilHealth and participating hospitals will also establish monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance with NBB requirements, including the assessment of professional fees, hospital charges, and other out-of-pocket payments.
According to PhilHealth, hospitals that signed the agreement may also qualify for performance-based incentives in recognition of their participation and compliance with established program standards. Pampanga PIO/Photos: Daniel Ombina
