PhilHealth mulls suing head of private hospital association

MANILA, Philippines – After threatening not to honor PhilHealth membership of patients because of delayed reimbursements, Private Hospital Association of the Philippines (PHAP) president Rustico Jimenez may soon be facing a legal battle.

“Correct, correct,” PhilHealth president Alex Padilla said Monday during a televised press conference when asked by reporters if they are planning any legal action against Jimenez.

“Mahirap ho siguro natin pangunahan so we will be investigating the process, looking at it and see what other action or if we should take action against Dr.  Jimenez,” Padilla added.

The PhilHealth official said they do not have a problem with the hospitals under the PHAP.

“Ang hindi ho namin gusto, actually, is when he insinuates reasons or other things to PhilHealth. For example, sasabihin ho niya na kaya hindi raw kami nakakabayad ay dahil may fraud kami o dahil ninakaw namin ‘yung pera,” he added.

(We don’t like his insinuations. For example, he said we were not being able to pay because of fraud or corruption.)

Padilla also questioned Jimenez’ claim that he represents all members of the PHAP, adding that some hospitals have come forward to say that they do not have problems with PhilHealth.

“We know that Dr. Rustico Jimenez came out with a threat that some of their hospitals might not be clearing PhilHealth members and the like, and we told them that we are warning them that this cannot be. This is against the law; this is against their commitment to PhilHealth. All PhilHealth members must be given the full benefits that they are entitled to,” Padilla said.

RELATED STORY

Palace cites inaccuracies in delayed PhilHealth reimbursements