No Hospital holiday for Baguio

HOSPITAL administrators assured services will be granted for all PhilHealth members.

During Monday’s regular council session, administrators of Notre Dame De

Chartres Hospital, Saint Louis Hospital of the Sacred Heart and Pines City Doctors Hospital said despite having payment backlogs from the Philippine Health Insurance (PhilHealth), services will continue for all.

PhilHealth Vice President for the Cordilleras, Gerry Ibay said all payments for the three hospitals are on schedule and within the sixty day waiting period.

Representatives from the three hospitals said payments from the PhilHealth are being processed and verified as of press time.

Ibay said for the city and the Cordillera, there are no problems in payments, appeasing fears by the council, explaining to aldermen the process of how payments are processed by the PhilHealth and adding documents from hospitals are being awaited for payments to be made, as well as appeals from members.

A Ronda Probinsya program is also in effect to reach far flung areas in the region.

Ibay said dialog with member hospitals are being made to facilitate issues and concerns and added

PhilHealth records show there are 16,999 indigent members with 4,351 sponsored.

In the city, the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, Baguio Medical Center and the Fort Del Pilar Station Hospital are among PhilHealth accredited centers where members can avail of services.

The threat of a hospital holiday alarmed Councilor Joel Alangsab prompting him to summon the PhilHealth and hospital representatives to the council to clarify issues and appease concerns.

Statements made by Private Hospital Association of the Philippines (PHAP) president Dr. Rustico Jimenez said because of a P7 to P9 billion debt of PhilHealth to their organizations, a hospital holiday is being considered.