Over the years, PhilHealth has forged electronic innovations by making its primary services accessible for members and stakeholders online, through its corporate website, www.philhealth.gov.ph.

In 2010, PhilHealth embarked on another quantum leap when it introduced the Electronic Premium Reporting System (EPRS), a web-based application designed to replace the manual reporting scheme for employers.

The EPRS’ main feature allows employers to report remittances via the internet. It was specifically devised to provide the formal sector an electronic gateway to PhilHealth’s services.

After EPRS, PhilHealth also took the lead of strengthening its engagement with employers by identifying PhilHealth Employer Engagement Representatives (PEERs) whose main function is to facilitate the utilization of EPRS in their respective workplaces.

With this, many employers revelled on the idea of going paperless while some initially had slight apprehensions.

Embracing EPRS as a change

Angela Antigra, an engaged PEER of All Trade Manpower Inc., a manpower servicing company in Davao City, shared her penchant for the conventional approach and manual submission of PhilHealth reports, where she believes she is more efficient at.

Given this, Antigra was still amenable and compliant to the mandatory enrolment of her agency’s account to EPRS in May 2014, albeit her reluctance to embrace such change.

For someone who doesn’t consider herself Internet-savvy, she scuffled through learning the system’s then unfamiliar hallmarks where she coped with the help of PhilHealth XI’s Accounts Information Management Specialists (AIMS).

Tides somewhat changed when Antigra instantly got accustomed to the system’s navigation process which she eventually describes as simple.

“It wasn’t that bad after all,” she remarked.

The extent of convenience EPRS provides has been both overwhelming and impressive, according to Antigra, whose agency holds more than a thousand employees.

In fact, the use of EPRS significantly shoots up her efficiency rate as she finally got rid of the tedious manual encoding of employees.

EPRS, its remarkable features

One of the main components of EPRS is its ability to employ real-time posting of premium contributions in members’ individual accounts, which hastens the availment of PhilHealth benefits by members.

Based on recent experiences, this feat gives their company an edge when servicing their employees because it takes away worries when the need to avail of hospitalization benefit comes.

Further, the use of EPRS doesn’t only expedite the processing of remittance reports but more importantly, it saves time and reduces operational cost.

“As we do away with submission of forms and USBs, we are able to cut down our expenses by not having to spend time and fare going to your (PhilHealth) office,” she disclosed.

One more key advantage of EPRS is how it links as reference of their account and payment history as it tracks down previously submitted online reports.

The generation of Statement of Premium Account (SPA) which is a requisite in paying their premium, also paved the way for transparency and efficiency in their office’s remittances.

Antigra also shared that they need not worry should they misplace their hardcopy files because the softcopy accessed online can now serve as back up support.

“(I realized) there are a lot of perks when using it (EPRS),” she eagerly asserted.

EPRS as channel for better, innovative service delivery

When asked on her overall insights about the EPRS, Antigra testifies to the viability and effectiveness of the system and calls on other employers who are yet to enrol to EPRS, to do so.

“I am happy and thankful for developments such as this and I highly recommend (the use of EPRS) to other employers.”

These recent innovations not only support PhilHealth’s operational efficiency but further empower employers to be systematic and efficient by cultivating a culture of responsibility and accountability among them.

In a recent circular issued, PhilHealth intends to maximize its efforts as it enforces mandatory adoption of EPRS among employers, regardless of number or scope.

This initiative validates the corporation’s colossal stride towards upholding the welfare of its members and stakeholders through better, innovative, elaborate service delivery. (by Kleah Dublin, PRO XI PAU)