Senators aired concerns on potential adverse effects during public health emergency amid a brewing disagreement over payment of PhilHealth reimbursement claims.
Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, chairman of the committee on health heading the Senate panel in the joint congressional oversight committee on the National Health Insurance Program, pressed for PhilHealth’s reconsideration of its Circular 2021-0013 suspending the payment of claims that are subject of investigations pertaining to “fraudulent, unethical acts, and/or abuse of authority.”
“As chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, I am appealing to PhilHealth to defer implementation of said Circular 2021-0013,” Go said over the weekend. “Let us give some slack as we are in a different situation. We are facing a pandemic and we need to help each other to surmount it and protect lives.”
This developed as Sen. Richard J. Gordon, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, signed a subpoena ad testificandum approved by Senate President Vicente Sotto III requiring the attendance of former Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Lloyd
Christopher Lao to the next hearing of the committee on Wednesday, August 25, into the 2020 Commission on Audit (COA) report on the Department of Health (DOH).
Lao, who resigned last June, was head of the Procurement Service of the DBM at the time when bulk purchases of masks and face shields were undertaken by the government due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“He will be asked to explain the circumstances of such procurement. It is important that he appears because there are so many questions that need answers, especially, he was previously investigated over procurement of overpriced medical supplies and equipment as Usec. Canda said,” Gordon stated.
In a news briefing, Lao said he is willing to attend the hearing “to shed light on the matter,” adding that the most appropriate avenue is the Blue Ribbon Committee.
“Mr. Lao is still in the Philippines, or at least, has not left the country, as certified by the Bureau of Immigration. This is a good sign that can only mean to indicate that he is not fleeing and can help us in our investigation in bringing light to the seemingly murky
processes of government procurement,” Gordon added.
This developed as Go on Sunday reported he already reached out to PhilHealth President Dante Gierran, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Secretary Carlito Galvez to help resolve these issues and protect the stability of the health system. In appealing for PhilHealth not to suspend payments to hospitals, Go said he prodded the officials concerned “to work together in order for these issues to be resolved.”
Affirming support for PhilHealth’s efforts to reform their system and protect public funds from fraudulent claims, he reminded, however, that “it should not compromise the health services for Filipinos.”
“Bagama’t sang-ayon ako sa hangarin ng PhilHealth na repormahin ang kanilang sistema para maproteksyunan ang pondo ng bayan laban sa mga namamantala, isaalang-alang rin dapat natin ang mga maaapektuhang ordinaryong mamamayan na walang matatakbuhan at nangangailangan ng tulong, lalo na pagdating sa kalusugan,” Go noted.
He pointed out that while the country remains under a public health emergency, concerned government agencies need to “be more flexible so they can prioritize what Filipinos’ need at this time.”
At the same time, Go noted that due to the issuance of the circular, the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, the Philippine Hospitals Association, and the Philippine Medical Association came out on August 21 with a joint statement announcing that they will “disengage” from the state-run health insurer.
The administration lawmaker, in turn, requested the state insurer and concerned hospitals to “work together to speed up the processing of their requirements so that payment may be made as quickly as possible.”
He added: “Ang payo ko sa PhilHealth at sa mga ospital na may pending claims, ayusin niyo na agad ang mga dokumento para hindi na matagalan ang pagbayad.”
Moreover, Go reminded that those found to have proven fraudulent claims will face charges while those with valid claims will be assisted to continue rendering service to the community. “’Yung mga mapatunayang may fraudulent claims, iyon ang kasuhan. ’Yung mga maayos naman, tulungan natin silang magampanan ang tungkulin nila sa komunidad lalo na ngayon na napaka-importante ng mga ospital dahil tumataas na naman ang kaso ng mga nagkakasakit,” Go added.
At the same time, the senator asked hospitals to “follow proper procedures and be truthful in their claims, particularly in these exceptional circumstances due to the pandemic.”
“Sundin lang po natin ang tamang proseso at huwag na pong patagalin pa. Bilisan na po natin dahil malaking bagay ito upang mas makaresponde tayo sa pangangailangang pangkalusugan ng taumbayan,” he said, adding, “Pangalagaan rin natin ang pondo ng bayan at huwag natin palampasin ang mga nangsasamantala.”
The administration lawmaker likewise called on PhilHealth and hospitals to prioritize the welfare of ordinary Filipinos who need their services now more than ever, saying, “Huwag nating hayaan na mailagay sa alanganin ang buhay ng mga Pilipino dahil iyon pangunahing
konsiderasyon natin palagi. Sa lahat ng aksyon at desisyon ng gobyerno, dapat balanse para hindi makompromiso ang serbisyo na dapat matanggap ng bawat Pilipino.”