The Silliman University Medical Center Foundation Inc. is investigating the circumstances that prompted the Commission on Human Rights to “rescue” a patient who could not pay his bills on Feb. 5.
CHR-Negros Oriental special investigator and provincial chief Dr. Jesus Cañete appeared on Sunday afternoon at the SUMC, and demanded the release of the patient from his private room.
Cañete said the patient was prevented from leaving the hospital due to his unpaid bills, which is prohibited by RA 9439.
While he was unable to meet with anyone from the hospital administration, who are usually off on Sundays, Cañete succeeded in getting the unnamed patient, who was squirreled out by some unidentified people using another elevator.
In a letter to the Philippine Information Agency which organized a Kapihan sa PIA, Roberto Montebon, SUMCFI president, said that “without the benefit of a proper investigation and due process, elements of the CHR came to the hospital premises, and confronted staff in the business office and the security guards on a Sunday afternoon” over an alleged complaint for illegal detention.
He said that even as they were still discussing the matter with the CHR representative, “the patient, from a non-indigent family, and allegedly illegally-detained in a private room, was surreptitiously spirited out of the hospital”, a procedure SUMC found to be highly-irregular.
Montebon added that it is not a policy of SUMCFI to detain patients who cannot pay their bills, and that they remain compliant with RA 9439.
However, the patients would need to sign a promissory note, usually with a guarantor or some form of security to ensure payment for medical services, use of facilities, and hospital care rendered.
Meanwhile, the No- Balance Billing Policy of the Philippine Health Insurance is made available for indigent patients whose status is determined under the government’s National Household Targeting System.
This was disclosed Wednesday by Dr. Socrates Villamor, OIC chief, Local Health Support Division of the Department of Health-Negros Island Region during a Kapihan sa PIA forum.
According to Dr. Villamor, the poorest of the poor can avail of the No-Balance Billing Policy, which is now implemented in government hospitals nationwide, including the provincial hospital here.
At the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital, the No-Balance Billing Policy is in effect although there are delays usually in the processing of papers, according to Inocencio Obligar Jr., NOPH administrative officer, in the same forum.
The No-Balance Billing Policy is a new program that mandates PhilHealth members certified as “poorest of the poor” not to be charged of any additional fees if they availed any of the identified 22 medical and surgical cases covered by the case payment scheme.
Obligar admitted that delays are usually caused by PhilHealth members who fail to process immediately the requirements/documents but he assured that the new hospitalization scheme for indigent patients qualified for the No-Balance Billing Policy is implemented at the Provincial Hospital.
Dr. Villamor stressed the need for additional information dissemination by PhilHealth, local governments and even barangay officials on the rights and privileges of its members.
According to him, based on experience, there is a lack of understanding of PhilHealth members on their rights and benefits.
Some are even afraid to go to the hospital because they are apprehensive on charges and other additional fees that may not be covered by PhilHealth, he added.
Villamor also disclosed during the forum that DOH is undergoing review of the per-case rates.
The per-case payment scheme applies to both public and private hospitals accredited by PhilHealth although according to Dr. Villamor, although DOH does not have any hold over professional fees set by doctors. (Alex Pal, with reports from JFP)
