Angara urges to strengthen the Philippine Health Insurance
To protect the interest of the employees, employers and the PhilHealth organization

Sen. Edgardo J. Angara today calls for a more effective and efficient implementation of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) by strengthening the capability of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and protecting its activities against fraudulent actions.

"Health care has always been one of the most crucial issues of our society especially nowadays that our population is bombarded with different health threats. Similarly, proper implementation of government projects for the people's wellbeing should not be set aside. It is our citizen's right to receive proper health care and be protected from emerging abuses and unethical practices from health care providers, employers and members," said Angara who formerly chaired the Senate Committee on Health.

SB 2010 seeks to penalize violations and unscrupulous acts by increasing the amount of fine from the previous "P10, 000.00 to P50, 000.00 to P50, 000.00 to P100,000.00" or the choice to suspend erring health care provider from three months to the whole term of accreditation or revocation of accreditation.

Moreover, with regards to the employers, PhilHealth not only focuses on the filing of cases on violations, they are also considered as the most important partner for an effective and efficient implementation of the NHIP, considering they are also the biggest contributors to the NHI fund.

"Employers play a big role in the stability and longevity of the Program and hold the responsibility of reminding their members regarding their registration, deduction and remittances. Moreover, in order to balance the interest of PhilHealth and the employers, this bill proposes the imposition of interest and surcharges of three percent (3%) per month or at any rate as may be fixed by the company," explains Angara.

The bill is in accordance with RA 7875 or the National Health Insurance Act of 1995, as amended by RA 9241, which seeks to provide a comprehensive health development program for an affordable health and social services for the citizens. However, this act failed to provide PhilHealth with enforcement power and authority to file against erring health care providers and employers, thus the creation of SB 2010.

"With this, it is proposed to assign PhilHealth with visitorial and police powers to ensure the effective implementation of the NHIP and protect the NHI fund from being indiscriminately dissipated through fraudulent activities, abuses and other unethical activities that is bound to dismay the member-employees," added Angara