PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to make reimbursement claims faster and easier for private hospitals.

He appealed to the government following the announcement of seven private hospitals in Iloilo that they will formally withdraw their accreditation with PhilHealth starting next year.

The Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer affirmed Philhealth’s crucial role in this time of the pandemic. He prodded the state insurer to fast-track its payments.

“Kailangan na kailangan sila ngayon ng mamamayan kaya mahalaga na maayos na nila ang kanilang problema. Higit sa lahat, taumbayan ang apektado kung bumitaw ang mga private hospitals sa PhilHealth. Pabilisin na ang proseso dahil ito naman ay serbisyong publiko,” Marcos Jr. said.

He also urged PhilHealth to fulfill its commitment to settling unpaid claims before the year ends.

“Sana mangyari ito dahil napakalaking bagay ang maayos na koordinasyon ng PhilHealth at private hospitals ngayong panahon ng pandemya,” said Marcos Jr.

Dr. Jose Rene De Grano, President of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPi), said private hospitals from National Capital Region (NCR), Quezon Province, Northern Luzon, and General Santos City had expressed their intention to follow the decision made by the seven Iloilo hospitals.

Since 2019, PHAPi has been in a rift with PhilHealth over unpaid claims, affecting many of its members. Some allegedly just decided to close down due to bankruptcy, while others downsized, which slowed down their operations.

The state insurer claimed it had already paid some of the PHAPi members. However, PhilHealth said, hospitals have yet to disburse the payment due to the “debit-credit payment method.”

Marcos Jr. lamented that Filipinos would be severely affected by the situation as health services would suffer should the withdrawal from PhilHealth’s accreditation push through.

Once private hospitals decide to withdraw, patients will have to shoulder 100 percent of their medical fees and follow-up consultations out of pocket.

“Napakahalaga na may matatakbuhan ang mga kababayan nating nangangailan ng tulong, lalo na sa panahon ngayong may pandemiya. Maaapektuhan ng unpaid claims na ito ang dapat sanang magandang serbisyo na ibinibigay ng mga pribadong ospital. Dapat na pag-igihan ng PhilHealth ang kanilang ugnayan sa mga private hospitals. Siguraduhin na sila ay mababayaran na upang hindi maputol at maapektuhan ang mga health care facilities,” Marcos Jr. said.

“May ilang ospital na ang nagsara dahil sa pagkalugi at hindi maganda na para maiwasan ang ganitong pangyayari ay mga Pilipino ang mahihirapan. Maraming Pilipino ang umaasa sa tulong na kanilang nakukuha sa PhilHealth. Kapag nag-withdraw ang mga pribadong hospital, tiyak na problema para ating mga kababayan kung saan sila kukuha ng pambayad sa ospital,” he added.

Marcos Jr. suggested that the agency create flexible arrangements with private hospitals to ensure Filipinos availing medical care are looked after.