Palace outlines rules on HCF availment of Philhealth’s new ‘debit-credit’ scheme

ONLY health care facility (HCF) with still unsettled payments and a clear record will be allowed to avail of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.’s (Philhealth) new debitcredit scheme.

Malacañang gave the assurance of President Duterte ordered the state health insurer last week to fast track its payments of claims of public and private hospitals within the National Capital Region (NCR) plus, which includes Metro Manila, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite and Bulacan.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Philhealth’s Debitcredit Payment Method (DCPM) is different from its controversial Interim Reimbursement Mechanism Fund (IRMF).

Under the IRMF, he noted Philhealth allocated large amount for HCFS last year to pay for the services availed of by supposed Covid-inflicted members even in areas, which have no reported cases of infections.

For the DCPM, the Palace official said, only HCFS located within the NCR plus and will need to pass stringent qualifications to avail of the DCPM.

The DCPM will also only apply to “in process” claims made between

March 8, 2020 and April 7, 2021.

Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said the DCPM will allow the hospitals to get paid immediately so they could afford to expand their dedicated beds for Covid-19 patients.

Last year, the government ordered the suspension of the IRMF amid allegations it was being abused by some unscrupulous individuals to get cash from Philhealth.