Private hospitals eye ‘PhilHealth holiday’ in February

This photo taken on April 6, 2021, shows a relative wearing personal protective equipment attending to a family member with COVID-19 at a makeshift ward in a hospital in Manila. (Photo by JAM STA ROSA / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPi) may reschedule its planned “PhilHealth holiday” from January to February next year, its president said Thursday.

PHAPi President Dr. Jose Rene De Grano said they will push through with their plan if the issue on PhilHealth’s unpaid claims will not be resolved.

“Kapag hindi pa rin nagkasundo ay baka sa February, ituloy namin ang holiday at i-a-advise naman natin ang lahat ng mga pasyente nang sa ganun ay hindi sila magulat o mabigla,” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

(If issues are not resolved, we may proceed with the PhilHealth holiday in February and we will advise our patients so that they will not be shocked.)

PHAPi earlier urged its members to not accept claims for PhilHealth deductions for health services from January 1 to 5, 2022, in support of other hospitals that have announced plans to cut ties with the state health insurer over millions in unpaid claims.

However, the organization said they have postponed their plan due to requests from patients “so they can be informed well and advised on what to do during the holiday.”

De Grano said that during the holiday, some hospitals may instead request that part of the patient’s expenses be shouldered by foundations, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, or local government units.

He said patients will also be advised to go to public hospitals instead.

KGA