Starting February 14, all outpatient emergency cases in accredited levels 1 to 3 hospitals are covered by PhilHealth’s Facility-Based Emergency (FBE) benefit in accordance with the Outpatient Emergency Care Benefit (OECB) package introduced late last year through PhilHealth Circular 2024-0033.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), led by acting president and CEO Dr. Edwin M. Mercado, held a consultation meeting with the country’s leading private hospital groups and national associations.
The brief meeting focused on PhilHealth’s commitment to improving efficiency, addressing wastage, and optimizing processes to ensure that hospitals receive timely payments for their claims.
The attendees included heads and representatives from Metro Pacific Health Corporation, Mount Grace Hospital Group, Unilab Foundation, AC Health, St. Luke’s Medical Center, The Medical City, Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc., and the Philippine Hospital Association.
Dr. Mercado and the hospital executives also agreed to take on the challenge of increasing access points for primary care. The hospitals taking on primary care will facilitate the completion of Health Care Provider Networks (HCPNs), bringing us closer to achieving Universal Health Care for every Filipino.
“We recognize the significant role that private hospitals play in delivering quality healthcare services to Filipinos. We can only leverage their capacities when we build a sphere of trust and effective coordination”, said Dr. Mercado.
Next on his priority list to meet are the government hospitals, both DOH and LGU-managed. With continued stakeholder engagement across the public health community, we are creating a strengthened PhilHealth to uplift healthcare financing in the Philippines.