THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) now owes hospitals in the country some P27 billion, but promises to settle them in the next 90 days.
PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Ledesma cited the agency’s more than P400 billion in investible funds and over P68 billion in net income as proof of its liquidity and capability to meet its financial obligations.
Ledesma told the House Appropriations Committee they would be rolling out soon the debit credit
payment mechanism for the purpose.
During the committee hearing, AGRI party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee scored the PhilHealth for not being able to pay the hospitals.
As a consequence, Lee said some hospitals no longer accept PhilHealth payments even as they could no longer afford the salaries of its staff.
“I’m happy to state to honorable congressmen that we will completely, hopefully, or very high percentage po within 90 days [mabayaran] ‘yung P27 billion,” Ledesma said.
“I’m confident that within 90 days from today bulk or majority if not all of the P27 billion will be paid off and hopefully that will make the hospitals and the doctors happy,” Ledesma said.
Ledesma asserted that their cash position was high so they are also looking at reforms in the company.
Ledesma also revealed they have started revising the benefit case packages, among other reforms.
“We have a pending review for a reorg. Once that’s approved we will increase the number of employees of PhilHealth from the current roughly 7,000 employees it will go above 10,000 employees,” Ledesma also said.
Lee urged the PhilHealth to fulfill their mandate to provide reliable health insurance coverage to the people and to promptly pay their dues to private hospitals using the profits it earned from
its investments.
Lee said he has received numerous complaints regarding the PhilHealth’s debts to hospitals
despite the agency possessing an enormous amount of available investible funds and income.
“Based on our discussion, I am confident that within 90 days from today, the bulk or the majority of the P27 billion will be paid off,” Ledesma said.