‘Malevolent’ PhilHealth schemes to be unveiled in Senate probe—Lacson

FILE – Sen. Panfilo Lacson Senate PRIB file photo / Henzberg Austria

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate inquiry will reveal more “malevolent” schemes of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) following the recent corruption allegations linked to the agency, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Saturday.

“Just to cite an example: The newly instituted Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM), purportedly to support the national government’s response to the COVID-19 threat, gives PhilHealth the authority to provide special privilege in the form of substantial aid to ‘eligible’ Health Care Institutions (HCIs),” the senator said.

“This new malevolent scheme led to the release of hundreds of millions of pesos in record time – in one or two weeks – to a few unaccredited hospitals that register only one COVID-19 patient,” Lacson added.

“That, and other mind-blowing controversies will be the focus of the Senate inquiry in the coming days when Congress starts its Second Regular Session.”

The IRM that Lacson was referring to is PhilHealth’s cash aid for hospital partners affected by natural disasters.

Lacson added that the Senate resolution that would be filed on Monday will show how the supposed corruption at the PhilHealth flourished during the coronavirus disease pandemic.

“The resolution that we are filing on Monday and the ensuing Committee of the Whole inquiry will show you how even the COVID-19 crisis has created more opportunities for systemic corruption in PhilHealth to flourish,” Lacson said.

“As long as the responsible officials are not made accountable for their misdeeds, PhilHealth will continue to bleed dry, thus running the risk of becoming bankrupt sooner than we think,” the senator added.

Lacson  previously said he will file a resolution to launch an investigation into the supposed widespread corruption in PhilHealth.

PhilHealth, for its part, said it is prepared to answer corruption allegations during the Senate probe.