Drilon to PhilHealth: Suspend paying hospitals until new COVID-19 test guidelines are implemented

SENATE Minority Leader Franklin Drilon has asked the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to stop payments to hospitals and testing centers related to COVID-19 testing until the guidelines for the new test package are implemented.

Drilon also asked PhilHealth to submit a report to the Senate on the status of the payments. The report is to include how much has been paid to hospitals and testing centers and how many claims are being processed using the old rates.

"We do not want a single peso lost to sticky fingers who always want to dip their fingers into public funds. We must prevent public funds from going to the private pockets of these enterprising and heartless individuals who want to take advantage of the pandemic," he said. 

PhilHealth assured that it would release its guidelines once the new testing package is in effect.

Drilon meanwhile commended the health insurance agency for lowering the price of the testing package from P8,150 to P3,409.

"I am glad that we are able to help in averting a possible loss of P9.48 billion in public funds to the sticky fingers in PhilHealth and their cohorts," he said.

Drilon also wanted the new package to be implemented immediately.

PhilHealth paid P30 billion last March to its accredited hospitals, which is equivalent to three months' worth of claims based on historical data for COVID-related treatments.