“WALA dapat nawawalan ng kabuhayan o lalong nababaon sa hirap dahil sa pagkakasakit.”

THIS is the purpose of pushing for a quality, affordable, accessible, and compassionate healthcare service, stressed AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee as he filed a bill seeking to institutionalize the “No Balance Billing (NBB) Policy”.

No Balance Billing is a government policy implemented through the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) which guarantees that no fees or expenses shall be charged or paid by the qualified members seeking urgent medical care in accredited hospitals.

Under Lee’s proposed House Bill (HB) No. 10245 or the “No Balance Billing Act,” Filipinos are empowered to seek needed hospital care without any financial worries, improving health outcomes and promoting equity in access to healthcare services.

According to the Bicolano lawmaker, this measure aims to ensure protection of financially unstable and disadvantaged patients from excessive medical expenses and promote expansion of the NBB to accommodate more people and healthcare services.

Through HB 10245, NBB Policy shall also be made applicable to all other membership types of the program who will avail of the maternity care and newborn care packages, among others.

According to the solon from Bicol, despite the enactment of Republic Act No. 11223 or the “Universal Health Care Act”, coverage gaps and high out-of-pocket expenses continue to leave many Filipinos afraid of getting sick as they fear sinking further into poverty due to their inability to afford medical treatment or hospital expenses.

“Napakaganda po ng layunin ng NBB; existing na ang programang ito, pero kung hindi naman ito alam at gaanong nararamdaman ng marami nating kababayan, kung hindi nasusunod at hindi naipapatupad nang maayos, balewala ito. Kaya gusto nating maisabatas at maging komprehensibo ang implementasyon ng programang ito,” Lee stressed.

“Marami po nating kababayan ang sa kasamaang palad, pumapanaw nang hindi man lang nakakapagpacheck-up, nakakakita ng doktor o nakakatuntong sa ospital. Mas pinipili ng marami na maratay na lang sa banig ng karamdaman dahil sa takot sa katakot-takot na bayarin, at madamay pa ang ibang pangangailangan ng buong pamilya sa aabuting gastos,” he added.

Lee emphasized the urgency of implementing this policy comprehensively and the need for every accredited hospital to comply with its provisions. He also pointed out the importance of timely payments from PhilHealth to hospitals to ensure efficient implementation.

“In fostering cooperation between the government and private healthcare institutions, timely payment mechanism is crucial. Through this measure, PhilHealth must pay private health institutions in 60 days. We must create an environment that incentivizes participation and guarantees quality care for all beneficiaries,” Lee said.

“Hindi na dapat maulit pa yung pagkakaroon ng napakalaking utang noon ng PhilHealth sa ating mga private hospitals na nagresulta sa hindi pagtanggap sa mga pasyente, at nakaapekto rin sa serbisyo ng mga ospital. Napakalaki ng pondo ng ahensya na dapat magamit agad sa kapakinabangan ng ating mga kababayan.”

“Mahalaga ang papel ng PhilHealth sa implementasyon ng panukala nating ito. Ang gusto natin, dumating ang araw na kapag member ka ng PhilHealth, para ka na ring may hawak na healthcard, kung saan wala ka nang ilalabas mula sa sariling bulsa kapag nagpagamot sa ospital,” he added.

It can be recalled that as a staunch health advocate, Lee successfully spearheaded the call for the 30% increase of PhilHealth benefits, which took effect on February 14.

No less than PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. recognized the lawmaker’s efforts in starting and getting the ball rolling in implementing the said increase in the benefits that the state health insurer offer to its members.

Lee, likewise, advocated for the full coverage for dialysis, cancer treatment, heart bypass surgery, and other major hospital operations. He also pushed for the inclusion of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Computed Tomography (CT) scan, and all other diagnostic tests in the urgent care packages of the PhilHealth, reiterating that availability of these tests shouldn’t be limited to inpatient care.

“As enabler of meaningful services, the government must ensure that illness does not lead to financial ruin. It must implement concrete steps to protect the jobs of those who fall ill, ensuring they have a livelihood to return to,” Lee said.

“Kasunod nga po sa pagkain, kalusugan ang pangunahing alalahanin ng ating mga kababayan. Umulan man o umaraw, nandyan lagi ang posibilidad ng pagkakasakit. Winner tayong lahat kung mapapagaan ang pasanin at mapapalaya sa pangambang ito ang bawat pamilya. Mayaman man o mahirap, may karapatang mabuhay.”

“Filipinos deserve better and we should demand better. Hindi dapat naipagkakait sa kanila ang maayos na serbisyong pangkalusugan na matibay na tuntungan tungo sa pag-abangon mula sa mga hamon at sa pag-asenso,” he added.