Government tells PhilHealth to speed up payment of legitimate claims

[ASEAN NOW News]

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (File photo)

 

MANILA – Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go reminded the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to “exert all efforts possible in accordance with our laws” to expedite the processing of payments for legitimate claims.

 

“Make it fast, simple, and shorten the process with the help of technology and additional personnel if needed,” Go said in a statement on Tuesday after some private hospitals have expressed their plan to sever ties with PhilHealth over its continued failure to pay reimbursement claims.

 

He said hospitals cannot continue their operations without the necessary funds “because of the expenses they pay while waiting (for) claims from PhilHealth.”

 

Go, however, appealed to the private hospitals to submit only legitimate claims.

 

“I am appealing to the hospitals: make sure that all the claims submitted to PhilHealth are legitimate so as not to delay the vetting process,” he said.

 

Go said he and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea spoke to PhilHealth President Dante Gierran and Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPi) president Dr. Jose Rene de Grano on Tuesday.

 

“We reminded the management of PhilHealth to settle the issues of the affected hospitals and also coordinate with groups, such as the PHAPi, to resolve the problem in a quick and proper manner,” he said.

 

He said both PhilHealth and PHAPi committed to working together to protect the welfare of all affected Filipinos.

 

“Let us help one another for the sake of our countrymen. We cannot delay health services, especially now that we are grappling with a pandemic,” Go said.

 

“As a senator and Committee Chair on Health, I will continue to monitor, and I am always ready to mediate so that no one is left behind. Let us work together to protect the lives of every Filipino.” (PNA)