GORDON PROPOSES ANTI-FRAUD UNIT TO RESOLVE ALLEGED CORRUPTION IN PHILHEALTH

Senator Richard J. Gordon strongly recommended the creation of an anti-insurance fraud unit within the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that will focus on monitoring all transactions and information in selected government agencies as a way of resolving the alleged fraud and corruption involving the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

On Wednesday at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, Gordon said that the proposed unit, which will be properly funded, will be responsible for detecting fraudulent ways and abuse inside PhilHealth such as the reported charging of dialysis claims of patient members who are already deceased.

"Lalakihan natin iyon kung saka-sakali at lalagyan ng budget sapagkat kailangang bantayan ang PhilHealth ng talagang mga magagaling na imbestigador. Dapat nakatutok iyan diyan," he said.

The anti-fraud unit will acquire information from various government departments such as the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Social Security System (SSS) and the Philippine Veterans Office (PVAO) that will have a synchronized data sharing in order to detect whether a person is still living or already dead. With the system, the data on the death of a citizen will be immediately sent to PhilHealth so that fraudulent claims from the government corporation will be prevented.

Gordon also emphasized the need to urgently resolve the issue as it deeply affects many Filipinos especially those who are sick and in need of medical support from the government.

"Lahat ng may sakit na Pilipino, apektado diyan. Kung talagang kailangan ng tulong sa ospital, iyan ang hinahabol nila. Kaya nga inilagay iyan para nang sa ganoon, matulungan natin ang mga kababayan natin na hirap at nagpipighati. At tandaan po natin na walang mamamayan ng Pilipinas ang dapat maging mahirap nang dahil lamang sa kanilang sakit. Ang vision ng PhilHealth ay bawat Pilipino, miyembro. Protektado dapat ang kalusugan ng lahat at ang benepisyong pangkalusugan ay sapat at de kalidad," he said.