PhilHealth already settled 73% of P27 billion hospital dues, says exec

PhilHealth file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) on Thursday said it has since settled 73 percent of the P27 billion it owes to hospitals nationwide,  its president and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said on Thursday.

Ledesma reported this data during the Senate Committee on Finance hearing on the proposed 2024 budget of the Department of Health amounting to P311.3 billion.

The president of the state insurer, who made the promise before a House committee on appropriations last September 6 that it could settle the hospital dues within 90 days, also noted that the bulk of the payments have been settled for only a few weeks since the self-imposed deadline.

READ: PhilHealth to pay off bulk of P27B hospital dues in 90 days

“I am happy to update this honorable committee that … of the 27 billion pesos that Philhealth owes these hospitals, we have already paid 73 percent of the 27 billion,” Ledesma said in response to the question of Senator Pia Cayetano about the status of the hospital payments.

“What I like to say is, we are well on track,” he also noted.

Ledesma said the Debit Credit Payment Mechanism, which provides for the fast release of funds to qualified hospitals, was also utilized to pay off the hospital debts.

Cayetano was pleasantly surprised by the development.

“If that is accurate, which of course on face value, I believe you, then congratulations,” she said.

JPV