PhilHealth

PhilHealth-Compliant and Patient-Focused: How CFERMTC Ensures Zero-Billing Healthcare 05-08-2025

With a strong commitment to giving accessible and quality health care for all, Conrado F. Estrella Regional Medical and Trauma Center (CFERMTC), a PhilHealth accredited Level 2 hospital located in Rosales, Pangasinan, ensures patients receive the highest standard of care with zero out-of-pocket expense and free medications during hospitalization.

“Sa CFERMTC, libre ang magpagamot at libre ang gamot,” said CFERMTC Medical Center Chief Emerson B. Patawaran, underscoring their firm commitment and full compliance with PhilHealth’s No Balance Billing (NBB) Policy. The facility strongly discourages prescription of medications not listed in the Philippine National Drug Formulary (PNDF), in adherence to Executive Order No. 47, s. 1993, or the Mandatory Use of the PNDF Volume I as the Basis for Procurement of Drug Products by the Government. Since non-PNDF drugs cannot be procured using government funds, prescribing them may lead to unnecessary out-of-pocket expenses for patients. There are no commercial pharmacies located in front of or near the hospital as CFERMTC ensures that patients are provided with medicines during confinement period.

CFERMTC was established through Republic Act No. 11558 and was formally opened on April 7, 2022. It has since become a vital healthcare hub serving patients from Eastern Pangasinan, Northern Tarlac, and Western Nueva Ecija, with an average daily outpatient load of 300. The center also accommodates around 1,500 inpatients each month, reflecting its growing role in regional healthcare delivery.

Dr. Patawaran also acknowledges the huge impact of the 50% increase in case rates saying, “Gusto ko pong magpasalamat sa liderato ngayon ng gobyerno at sa mga pagbabago sa PhilHealth lalo na sa pagtaas ng ating mga case rate sa iba’t ibang sakit, lalong lalo na sa mga sakit na nagpapahirap sa ating mga pasyente.” They commended PhilHealth for significantly increasing the benefit packages for stroke patients.

Benefit for Ischemic Stroke has risen from Php28,000 to Php76,000, while the package for Hemorrhagic Stroke has increased from Php38,000 to Php80,000, both effective November 2023. He also added that PhilHealth is now more responsive and is more sensitive to the needs of the Filipino people and to the changing times. These initiatives demonstrate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s commitment to improving PhilHealth's performance and expanding access to quality healthcare services for all Filipinos. In response to PBBM’s directive, PhilHealth's Rise 30 Mission was created to implement strategies to significantly influence the cost and quality of health care.

CFERMTC is also an accredited PhilHealth Konsulta (Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama) package provider - a primary care benefit of PhilHealth which promotes early disease detection, prevention, health education. They encourage everyone, especially women 40 years old and above, to avail of the free mammography for early detection of breast cancer, now covered under the Konsulta package. Those with lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension can also avail of the laboratory tests and maintenance medications to manage their cases and assured that all members who are enrolled at their facility will be able to avail of the Konsulta services for free.

Dr. Patawaran envisions the continued expansion of CFERMTC, which includes the establishment of a state-of-the-art Eye Center and Dialysis Center, as well as the enhancement of the hospital’s diagnostic capabilities with 128-slice Computed Tomography (CT) scan and a 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) aimed at accommodating more patients in the community.

CFERMTC remains steadfast in upholding the principles of equity, accessibility, and accountability in public health. ###