COA flags PhilHealth for P7 billion unsettled disallowances

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has unsettled disallowances that have ballooned to over P7 billion as of last year, mostly cash gifts and holiday and birthday packages to officials and employees, the Commission on Audit (COA) said.

State auditors released a separate 51-page report showing that the disallowances of PhilHealth had reached P7.8 billion as of Dec. 31, 2022.

According to the COA, most of the disallowed sum includes cash gifts, allowances, assistance, stipends, Christmas and birthday packages, and bonuses paid out to PhilHealth officials and employees.

The rest of the disallowed amounts also include the unauthorized or excess payments made by PhilHealth to various suppliers or contractors.

—Dempsey Reyes

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