MANILA – The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is allegedly taking “too long” to settle hospital claims because president and CEO Dante Gierran intended to be “careful” to prevent further problems.
President Rodrigo Duterte made this statement in response to concerns about PhilHealth’s slow processing of outstanding claims, which led in the shutdown of some hospitals and a reduction in hospital manpower during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Duterte stated that he contacted Gierran to explain why hospital claims were not being paid on time.
“Tinanong ko siya, pinatawag ko, ‘Bakit mahina ka?’ Sabi niya, ‘Alam mo kasi ang trabaho na ito sir, papel ito, resibo ng mga medisina, resibo ng bayaran, resibo ng admission, resibo ng pag-alis ng ospital, pag exit. Sabi niya, ‘I have to be careful’ (I asked him, I called him over ‘Why are you so weak?’ He said, ‘You know this job sir involves receipts of medicines, admissions, discharges in hospitals’. He said ‘I have to be careful’),” Duterte said.
He claimed that Gierran stated that PhilHealth “cannot move faster” because he does not want to be accused of irregularities.
According to Duterte, working on a skeletal force due to the pandemic also made it more difficult to handle unpaid claims, citing PhilHealth spokesman Dr. Shirley Domingo.
He urged individuals who were criticizing PhilHealth and the Department of Health (DOH) to be patient.
“Kindly consider the reduced manpower of the departments. Huwag ninyong apurahin kasi hindi ninyo maapura ‘yan. Mabuti sana kung tumutulong kayo diyan (Don’t rush them because you can’t. It’s good if you’re helping them at all),” he said.
Hospitals have previously threatened to withdraw from PhilHealth by failing to renew their accreditation next year if the agency implemented a controversial circular barring payment of hospital claims.
Gierran stated last week that PhilHealth owes hospitals a total of PHP21.1 billion worth of outstanding claims.
He also became emotional in response to criticism directed at him and his agency, claiming that it had an impact on his friends and family as well.
Meanwhile, Duterte provided a summary of the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) disbursement of PHP311.79 million for the special risk allowance (SRA) of the country’s public and private healthcare personnel.
Healthcare worker groups have been outspoken in their opposition to the non-release of SRAs, even warning mass resignations.
Duterte had directed the DBM and DOH to pay the front-liners’ delayed allowances within 10 days.
