PhilHealth assures payment of benefits amid scandal

THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) assured Filipinos that despite the corruption scandal it is facing, it will continue to cover medical treatment and procedures as provided under the Universal Health Care Law.

PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Ricardo Morales also allayed fears of service disruption amid an investigation into allegations that some officials “pocketed” P15 billion from the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM) and overpriced its information technology projects.

“Our offices are ready to serve our clients nationwide,” Morales said.

The agency also said that health protocols will be observed strictly during transactions.

Meanwhile, PhilHealth said that it suspended the IRM program to review its overall implementation and resolve the issues that were revealed during the congressional hearings.

It maintained, however, that the IRM was legal and necessary for the country’s Covid-19 response, and that in-patient benefits, community isolation, and testing for affected members shall continue.

PhilHealth also called on the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) to release its so-called list of employees “from the top to the bottom” allegedly involved in corrupt activities.

The state insurer said the statement by PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica was a “sweeping generalization” and is unfair to the majority of its employees who continue to work.

The state insurer vowed to cooperate with the investigations and will not hesitate to punish those who will be found guilty.

Source: TheManila Times