Philhealth-EV convinces 15 private hospitals to adopt NBB

By Aurora J. Casimpan

Sunday 19th of August 2012

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, August 19 (PIA) -- Indigent members of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) in Eastern Visayas have reason to rejoice as 15 out of the 28 privately-owned hospitals in the region have committed to adopt the No Balance Billing (NBB) policy implemented by state-run hospitals.

Miramar Zabala, Philhealth regional information officer reported that the scheme agreed by the private-run hospitals will benefit some 2.89 million poor members of Philhealth in the region listed under the various sponsored program which accounts for 62% of the total 4.31 million members in Eastern Visayas.

Zabala also said that while the regional Philhealth is not the pioneer in NBB policy adoption for private medical service providers, said office was able to convince the most number of hospitals to sign a deal on the adoption of the NBB policy.

It was learned that those listed in the sponsored program are the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps); poor families identified by the National Household Targeting System (NHTS); and other indigent families with insurance premium shouldered by local government units.

Joanna Manalili, accreditation officer of Philhealth regional office also informed that the health insurance office continues to request other private hospitals to adopt the NBB policy. (PIA-8)