A landmark Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between PhilHealth and six Cagayan de Oro City-based PhilHealth-accredited hospitals has been signed to provide a “No Hospital Deposit Policy” for PhilHealth members.
Dr. Israel Paragas, PhilHealth OIC vice president for corporate affairs group, said the MOA seeks to strengthen Republic Act 10932, or the “No Hospital Deposit Law.”
“It mandates that “in emergency or serious cases, it shall be unlawful for any hospital or medical clinic to request, solicit, demand or accept any deposit or any other form of advance payment as prerequisite for administering basic emergency care, for confinement or medical treatment, or to refuse to administer medical treatment and support any patient,” said Dr. Pargas.
Under the agreement, the PhilHealth accredited hospital shall not impose a deposit requirement for eligible PhilHealth members and their dependents who come to the facility for confinement or admission. This will apply to both emergency and non-emergency cases.
It also allows admission or confinement of all eligible PhilHealth members without any deposit requirement in all types of room accommodation.
He added that the MOA will eventually encourage other private hospitals and facilities to follow suit and prioritize the treatment of patients rather than compromise their health and safety due to financial constraints
