By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) president and CEO, Dr. Celestina Ma. Jude De La Serna, recently revealed the Negros Occidental provincial government was paid P2.4 billion last year by the government-run healthcare provider.

She projected a rise in future payments, quoting the amount at “P4 billion and above.”

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. said about 40 percent of the provincial budget, around P1.5 billion, is allocated for health services annually. He noted, the additional investment from PhilHealth will help in reconciling records between Capitol-operated district hospitals.

Meanwhile, Negros Occidental third district Rep. Alfredo Benitez stressed a need to upgrade hospitals and provide more efficient services.

He suggested improving the billing system in order to hasten PhilHealth payments.

“If we do not get our acts together, there will be a lot of people who will not be given adequate medical attention,” the congressman stressed.

Earlier this month, the Office of the President ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to take action on reported fraudulent activities by the Cataract Foundation, which includes the alleged widespread recruitment of cataract patients in Bacolod City.

A complaint from Task Force Kasanag National Commander John Chiong claimed three doctors, whose identities are being withheld amid the pending investigation, allegedly paid social workers for “ferrying” PhilHealth members to undergo cataract surgery.

The scheme is intended to have cataract surgeries conducted in order for claims to be made through the government healthcare provider.

Last year, a congressional hearing of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability revealed some hospital physicians allegedly collected excessive amounts in PhilHealth claims for unnecessary procedures, with the Our Lady of Mercy Hospital in Bacolod City named as one of the involved hospitals./DGB, WDJ