News
RP's health insurance fund remains robust---PhilHealth
- October 19, 2007
The government's health insurance system is in the best financial condition now more than ever.
This was the assurance made by Lorna O. Fajardo, Acting PhilHealth President and CEO, amid earlier news reports that the government agency is losing millions to alleged fraudulent claims being filed by its partner health care providers.
"It is not accurate to say that PhilHealth is losing a lot of money," Fajardo said. In fact, she said, PhilHealth's total assets have reached P75 billion as of August this year and its fund reserves have grown to P71 billion, up by more than P10 billion from last year's comparable figures. "We are very liquid and we can pay for the health insurance benefits of our members anytime," Fajardo said, adding that PhilHealth is now poised at rolling out additional benefits for its members.
The PhilHealth Chief also emphasized that fraudulent claims are being addressed aggressively, with at least 34 cases already filed against doctors and hospitals. "These constitute a considerably low amount in the tens of millions compared to the tens of billions in revenues that we have generated and the benefit payments that we have made for our members' hospitalization," Fajardo said. She also said that even the health care provider associations are currently helping PhilHealth counter the occurrence of fraudulent practices among its network of partners nationwide.
At the same time, Fajardo reaffirmed PhilHealth's confidence in its network of 1,500 institutional and 20,000 professional health care providers. By accrediting doctors and hospitals into the National Health Insurance Program, PhilHealth ensures that the kind of medical care services rendered to its members are of the highest quality. It enables the government agency to tap only those who can meet the quality standards in health care delivery. "But this privilege can also be withdrawn if our partner-provider is proven to have violated the warranties of accreditation," Fajardo added. "Those who pad their claims are being investigated and they will certainly have their day in court," she said.
She also welcomed initiatives from its stakeholders, including the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, to look into the financial health of PhilHealth. "We seriously take our responsibility as the guardian of the health insurance fund and we make sure that this remains healthy. In fact, even our Resident Auditor has not found anything questionable in our financial and operational transactions, and so we welcome any inquiry into our records."