‘NOT MISSING’ | Only P200M left unaccounted for in P15B ‘stolen’ funds, says PhilHealth

April 7, 2021 , 01:09 PM

(April 7, 2021) – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Tuesday remained firm that the controversial P15 billion fund was not stolen, claiming that 98% has already been accounted for.

PhilHealth spokesperson Rey Baleña told One News’ The Chiefs that only about P200 million are left unliquidated from the P15 billion, as private hospitals continue claims of difficulty reimbursing expenses amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The hospitals are accounting it with us by way of liquidation, so may mga hospitals na tapos na mag-liqudate kasi they were able to file claims charged sa kanilang IRM (interim reimbursement mechanism). May hospitals na konting-konti na lang (ang kulang), kino-complete nila,” said Baleña. “These are all properly accounted for. At the moment it’s 98% (liquidation), P14.7 billion, we are down to the last P200 million.”

PhilHealth has been under deep scrutiny due to scandals over the past few years, most notably after whistleblower Thorrsson Montes Keith, a former employee, revealed last August that top officials embezzled as much as P15 billion through various internal schemes.

Baleña, however, has repeatedly denied the allegation, maintaining the P15 billion even went through thorough auditing.

“The P15 billion was not stolen, lost, missing. ‘Yan ay properly accounted for. That P14.97 billion, to be exact, last year were provided to hospitals in the country. Ipinamahagi sa kanila, naglathala tayo ng hospitals, sinu-sino sila, magkano ‘yung nabigay sa kanilang IRM, and over course of these months, they were able to liquidate it, it’s the hospitals that are liquidating it in the form of claims,” explained Baleña.

Many Filipinos, however, expressed doubts on the liquidation released by PhilHealth, with some commenting that the P15 billion “magically reappeared.”

On Tuesday, Sen. Richard Gordon said PhilHealth’s debt to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) for its COVID-19 testing services is still over P876 million.

Baleña, however, clarified that they have already paid most of their debt, appealing to the PRC to work on the returned claims.

“Ang nabayad na sa PRC ay P4.5 billion na and we have returned claims amounting to some P270 million. Ito’y kailangan talaga ibalik sapagkat deficient ito, may mga kailangan itama. Amin na lang panawagan sa PRC is maibalik agad sa amin so we can process these claims,” said Baleña.

PhilHealth has also been caught in the issue of co-payment, a predetermined rate paid by the patient to a hospital outside the state insurer’s coverage.

Dr. Jaime Almora, president of the Philippine Hospital Association (PHA), told One News’ The Chiefs on Monday that there are some private hospitals that refuse to admit additional COVID-19 patients due to a circular issued last December which prohibits co-payment.

Baleña, however, assured that PhilHealth’s COVID-19 packages are sufficient.

“We can very well say packages reflective or sapat, akma, para doon sa complete management of pneumonia ng COVID patient, so masasabi na tumutugon talaga sa pangangailangan. Ang ating pinag-uusapan dito sa direct healthcare costs, so these were all properly costed and accounted for last year,” said Baleña.

(Kiko Demigillo/PM)

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