(Contributed photo)
ILOILO CITY – Five private hospitals in Western Visayas have signed agreements with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. to implement its no co-payment policy, allowing eligible members admitted to basic or ward accommodations to receive covered services without out-of-pocket expenses.
The participating hospitals are Asia Pacific Medical Center-Iloilo, Healthway QualiMed Hospital-Iloilo, Iloilo Doctors’ Hospital, Saint Gabriel Medical Center Inc. in Kalibo, and Semirara Mining and Power Corp. Hospital in Antique.
PhilHealth Western Visayas Public Affairs Unit head Janimhe Jalbuna said members confined in basic or ward accommodations at participating accredited facilities will not be required to pay for services covered by the policy.
These include room and board, medicines, professional fees, laboratory procedures and other necessary medical services, provided patients avail themselves of the minimum standards of care.
Under PhilHealth rules, basic or ward accommodation includes a bed in a shared room, regular meals, fan ventilation, and shared toilet and bath facilities.
The five hospitals committed to allocate 10 percent of their bed capacity for patients covered by the policy, equivalent to a combined 64 ward-type beds.
Jalbuna said other private hospitals have also expressed interest in joining the program.
The no co-payment policy expands on the earlier no balance billing scheme, which was limited to certain membership categories and largely applied in government hospitals.
Under the Universal Health Care framework, the no co-payment policy covers PhilHealth members and dependents regardless of membership category, subject to applicable rules and accommodation requirements.
