Free admission to hospital wards eyed for PhilHealth direct contributors
State hospitals will soon apply the zero-balance billing policy to pay wards for PhilHealth members, according to the Department of Health.
In a video shared on the health agency's Facebook page, DOH chief Ted Herbosa said that he will soon release a Department Memorandum Circular ordering all DOH hospitals to provide free hospital accommodation to PhilHealth's direct contributors who will be admitted to pay wards or shared rooms.
"Nagkaroon ng malakas na paghiling na bigyan natin ng mas magandang pribilehiyo ang mga direct contributors ng PhilHealth. Ito 'yung mga nakakaltasan sa sweldo ng kanilang premium," he said. "Mayroong mga panukalang kailangan pa ng proseso pero ako, bilang inyong kalihim ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan, ay pwede na i-utos sa lahat ng DOH hospitals through a Department Memorandum Circular na maglagay at mag-allocate ng special area for direct contributors."
The Health Secretary added that the "special area" will provide PhilHealth members with "good accommodation that is air-conditioned."
"Ise-separate namin kayo para matignan kung kayo ay mabibigyan ng mas magandang accommodation: airconditioned, medyo may separation para hindi kayo nasa common area," Herbosa said. "Talagang bibigyan namin kayo ng additional benefits dahil kayo po ay nagko-contribute sa pondo ng PhilHealth."
The government's zero-balance billing program allows patients admitted to basic accommodations to receive hospital services such as medical procedures, doctors’ professional fees, and medications at no cost.
