How can a hospital recoup costs from treating a penniless patient?
Dear PAO, Is there any law that we can refer to when it comes to collection of unpaid medical bills from a patient? Since Republic Act 9439prohibits a medical institution from detaining its patients who are not capable of paying hospital bills, how can the hospital recover from its expenses in attending to the medical care of a patient who has no money at all? Thank you, and God bless! Sincerely, Jadhe Dear Jadhe, The hospital or medical clinic is not without recourse in cases bills or medical expenses. Under Section 2 of Republic Act (RA) 9439 (The Act Prohibiting the Detention of Patients in Hospitals and Medical Clinics on - pital Bills or Medical Expenses), incapable to settle their expenses in hospitals and medical clinics shall be allowed to leave upon covering the unpaid obligation with the patient for the obligation.
the date and under the conditions the lender. A person who signs such an instrument is bound to honor it as a legitimate obligation Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 90270, Associate Justice Isagani Cruz). It should be noted, however, that those obliged to deliver or to do time the obligee (medical institu - ment of their obligation (Article
medical institution can enforce a small claims case in the lower court in accordance with A.M. No. of Procedure for Small Claims Cases, if the amount of the unpaid obligation does not exceed two hundred thousand pesos. If the obligation exceeds this amount, medical institution can foreclose - Estela Perlas-Bernabe) citing Bachrach Motor Co. Inc. v. Icarangal was held that “a mortgage creditor debtor either a personal action for debt or real action to foreclose the pursue either of the two remedies, impaired, for each of the two remedies is complete in itself. Thus, an election to bring personal action will leave open to him all the properties of the debtor for attachment and execution, even including the if he waives such personal action judgment thereon would still give judgment, in which case, all the properties of the defendant, other again open to him for the satisfac cause of action undiminished, and
secured the note, a collection suit instituted against either the patient them. Section 2 of RA 9439 of the Civil Code, the creditor the whole unpaid obligation.
- narrated and our appreciation or elaborated. We hope that we the matter.