Senators back Bong Go’s call to scrap PhilHealth single confinement rule

Senator Bong Go

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, chairperson of the Senate committee on health, has renewed his call for the immediate scrapping of PhilHealth’s single period of confinement policy, which he has repeatedly labeled as “unfair and illogical,” particularly in light of the state insurer’s current financial standing of accumulating excess funds.

This latest call was made during a Senate plenary session on Tuesday, August 27, where Go delivered a privilege speech, once again urging PhilHealth to fulfill its promises by maximizing their resources to provide Filipinos with the healthcare coverage they deserve.

READ: PhilHealth to review single period of confinement rule

Go’s call for reform was strongly supported by his fellow senators, who echoed the need for urgent changes in the PhilHealth’s policies.

The Single Period Confinement policy dictates that admissions and readmissions due to the same illness or procedure within a specific period of 90 days are only compensated once by PhilHealth.

In the speech, Go underscored the urgent need for PhilHealth to rectify its policies and improve its services to better serve the Filipino people. He emphasized the agency’s responsibility to manage its resources effectively and ensure that every Filipino can fully utilize their healthcare benefits without unreasonable restrictions.

“I have raised this during the last hearing, and I want to reiterate that this policy is unfair and illogical given the financial standing of PhilHealth,” Go remarked.

Go provided vivid examples to illustrate the policy’s detrimental impact on Filipinos, citing instances where individuals were denied coverage for necessary medical treatments.

“Halimbawa po, may buntis. Maselan ang pagbubuntis, nag-bleeding siya. Ngayon, na-admit siya. After two weeks, maselan pa rin po ang kanyang pagbubuntis at bawal na po i-cover ng PhilHealth. Diarrhea-pasintabi po sa kumakain—tulad natin na kahit saan kumakain. Sa street foods, kumakain kwek-kwek lang kahit saan. Kapag nagka-diarrhea ka, after two weeks, nagka-diarrhea ka, bawal i-cover muli,” explained Go.

He continued, “Pneumonia, bawal na muli. Hintay ka pa ng 90 days, maturuan mo ba ‘yon? Karapatan naman po ‘yan ng bawat Pilipino. Bakit ayaw n’yong ipagamit ang pondo ng PhilHealth?”

Go highlighted that the policy is particularly unjust given PhilHealth’s financial situation, which should allow for more comprehensive coverage.

The discussions saw significant contributions from other senators. Senator JV Ejercito also supported Go’s call to scrap the policy, pointing out that it runs contrary to the goals of the Universal Health Care Act, which aims to provide accessible healthcare without financial burdens. Ejercito emphasized that PhilHealth must rectify this policy and ensure that all Filipinos can access the healthcare they need.

Senator Robin Padilla also expressed strong support for Go’s efforts to advocate for equitable healthcare for all Filipinos, highlighting that this fight is enshrined in the Constitution. Padilla praised Go for championing the health of every Filipino, regardless of their socio-economic status or contribution to PhilHealth.

Senator Koko Pimentel commended Go for bringing up such a critical issue. “Napakahalagang subject matter nito kaya ako’y nagpapasalamat po sa ating chairman on the Committee on Health for bringing this up,” Pimentel stated.

“‘Yung presidente ng PhilHealth, hindi po ba ‘oo’ lang ng ‘oo’ sa lahat ng katanungan ninyo at parang pangako lang ng pangako. Hindi po ba mas politiko pa siya sa mga senador na naghearing?” Pimentel quipped, further illustrating his frustration with PhilHealth’s leadership.

Go responded by highlighting the PhilHealth President’s lack of experience with the challenges faced by ordinary Filipinos. “Nag-cross my heart pa siya,” Go added, recalling the president’s commitment during the hearing.

“Alam n’yo, aminado n’ya po na hindi siya dumaan sa pagiging mahirap. Hindi n’ya po inabutan kung ano ang problema sa baba. Kaya pakiusap ko po sa mga kasamahan natin na huwag ho nating tigilan. Mayroon naman pong budget deliberation dito, bakit tayo magbibigay ng malaking pondo hangga’t hindi tayo nakukuntento na gagamitin n’ya po ‘yung pondo sa mga mahihirap?” Go added.

One of the key points of discussion was PhilHealth’s excess funds and the apparent mismanagement of these resources. Go criticized the agency for failure to provide adequate coverage while sitting on billions of pesos in funds.

“Ang nakakalungkot po dito, Mr. President, habang may namamatay na walang pambayad sa ospital, habang gusto na lang pong ipatanggal ‘yung oxygen dahil wala na pong pambayad sa ospital… ano ba naman ‘yung pambayad sa oxygen na iso-shoulder ng PhilHealth tapos natutulog lang ‘yung pondo. Importante rito ‘yung buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” Go asserted.

He pointed out that while PhilHealth boasts about its PhP500 billion reserve funds, many Filipinos are still denied critical healthcare services due to the agency’s restrictive policies.

As the session progressed, Go reiterated his call for a comprehensive review and reform of PhilHealth’s policies.

“We should strongly urge PhilHealth to provide us a clear timeline for this policy review and the expected implementation of necessary changes to ensure that members can fully utilize their benefits without unreasonable restrictions,” Go stated.

Pimentel expressed his agreement, emphasizing that common sense should prevail in the decision-making process at PhilHealth.

Both Senators Go and Pimentel questioned PhilHealth leadership and the decision-making processes that led to the implementation of flawed policies like the Single Period Confinement policy.

Pimentel suggested that the government should take a closer look at the qualifications of those appointed to lead critical agencies like PhilHealth.

In response, Go reiterated the need for quality leadership in PhilHealth, particularly given the agency’s significant role in providing healthcare services to millions of Filipinos. He stressed the importance of appointing individuals who are not only competent but also genuinely committed and compassionate to serving the public.

As the discussion drew to a close, Go reiterated his commitment to continue monitoring PhilHealth’s actions and pushing for the necessary reforms to ensure that the agency fulfills its mandate.

“Patuloy po ang aking hearing dito, Mr. President. At sa budget deliberation pwede rin nating pag-usapan ito dahil humihingi po sila ng subsidy for 2025. Pag-usapan natin, pagtulungan po natin ito, Mr. President. Ibalik natin sa mga pasyente. Kung maaari expand benefit packages. Kung anong pwede nating gawin, batas isulong natin para ibalik natin yung pondo ng taumbayan sa mga mahihirap,” Go concluded.