THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Regional Office X (PRO X) recently signed a landmark Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with six (6) Cagayan de Oro City-based PhilHealth-accredited hospitals that provides for a No Hospital Deposit Policy for PhilHealth members. The signing ceremony was held at the SEDA Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City.

Dr. Ruben Go, Medical Director of CDO Polymedic Plaza, Dr. Miguel E. Kho of Madonna and Child Hospital, Dr. Jesus M. Jardin of Capitol University Medical Center, Dexter R. Garcia of Cagayan de Oro Medical Center, Dr. Michael C. Sabal of Sabal Hospital, SPC Sr. Mercy Corazon G. Bangot of Maria Reyna XU Hospital, and Datu Masiding M. Alonto, Jr., Area Vice-President for Mindanao, signed the historic document. The partnership was sealed in the presence of Oscar Moreno, CDO City Mayor, Atty. Carlo Franco Thomas Limjoco of the Department of Health X, Dr. Ma. Lourdes S. Gaane, City Councilor, Dr. Jonathan T. Ortigoza, PRO X’s Chief of Health Care Delivery and Management Division, and Atty. Ian Alfredo T. Magno, Deputy Legal Officer, PRO X.

The MOA seeks to strengthen Republic Act 10932, or the “No Hospital Deposit Law.” It mandates that “in emergency or serious cases, it shall be unlawful for any hospital or medical clinic to request, solicit, demand or accept any deposit or any other form of advance payment as prerequisite for administering basic emergency care, for confinement or medical treatment, or to refuse to administer medical treatment and support any patient”.

Under the agreement, the PhilHealth accredited hospital shall not impose a deposit requirement for eligible PhilHealth members and their dependents who come to the facility for confinement or admission. This will apply to both emergency and non-emergency cases. It also allows admission or confinement of all eligible PhilHealth members without any deposit requirement in all types of room accommodation.

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“We are hopeful that this will encourage other private hospitals and facilities to follow suit and prioritize the treatment of patients rather than compromise their health and safety due to financial constraints,” Alonto stressed. The PRO X intends to intensify and expand its campaign for the No Hospital Deposit Policy to all Private Health Care Institutions in 2018. (END)

(Reference: Dr. Israel Francis A. Pargas, Head Executive Assistant and Concurrent OIC-Vice President for Corporate Affairs Group, Cel No. 0917-8089399)