DOH expands zero billing to cover PhilHealth direct contributors in pay wards
Direct contributors of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will soon be able to avail themselves of a pay ward or shared room in hospitals run by the Department of Health (DOH) for free under the government’s zero balance billing (ZBB) policy.
In a statement on Monday, the DOH announced that it would be releasing a new memorandum circular directing all of its 87 hospitals across the country to cover patients admitted in pay wards under ZBB as long as they are paying their monthly premiums to PhilHealth.
Huge clamor
The DOH said that the new policy was made in response to an order by President Marcos mandating it to ensure that middle-class earners get to enjoy the health benefits from the government.
“There was a huge clamor for us to give better privileges to those who are direct contributors of PhilHealth. They are those whose salaries are deducted for their premium [contribution],” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in a video posted on the DOH’s Facebook page.
He noted that direct contributors, many of whom are middle-class earners, have hoped to get better accommodation under ZBB.
Under the ZBB program, which the President mentioned during his State of the Nation Address in July, patients no longer have to pay any fees when admitted in the basic or ward accommodation at any DOH-operated hospital. But if a patient chooses to avail of a private room, he would have to pay the corresponding room rates and services since this is not covered under the policy.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said last month that he met with Herbosa and PhilHealth President and CEO Edwin Mercado to discuss “system-wide solutions” that are aimed at ensuring the ZBB is “genuinely felt by Filipino patients.”
Recto had urged the two officials to expand the benefit packages offered by PhilHealth, “especially for the middle class who consistently pay their taxes and contributions.”
‘Special area’
In view of the new memorandum circular, Herbosa said DOH hospitals are now tasked to allocate a “special area” for PhilHealth direct contributors who may want to avail of the ZBB policy, instead of being placed in basic or ward accommodation.
“We will separate you to see if we can give you better accommodation. Air-conditioned [room], with a little bit of separation, so that you are not in the common area,” he said. “We will give you additional benefits because you are contributing to the fund of PhilHealth,” he added.
