LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA) — The provincial government of Benguet appeals to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to lift the suspension of the Philhealth accreditation which has been imposed against the Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) in the next three months.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation imposed a three month suspension of the Philhealth accreditation effective September 1, 2022 to November 29, 2022.
The suspension is due to an administrative offense made in 2011. The penalty of three months suspension of the Philhealth Accreditation of the BeGH was imposed by †he PHIC Arbitration Office in PHIC Case No. HCP-CAR-11-257. Aside from the suspension of accreditation for three months, a fine of 10,000 pesos is to be paid.
The suspension was supposed to have been implemented in 2021 but was deferred thru an appeal to then Philhealth CEO and President Dante Gierran considering that the province was badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Per advisory og the BeGH, all services of the hospital are available, however clients cannot avail of the Philhealth benefits during the suspension period. This means that no paid claims for confinement at the hospital shall be received, processed and paid by Philhealth during the suspension period
Governor Melchor Diclas already made an appeal thru a letter addressed to the President prior to the imposition of the suspension.
Diclas noted that the implementation of the decision of suspension of Philhealth accreditation of BeGH at this very difficult time will deprive the people of Benguet from availing of the National Health Insurance Program and will affect the implementation of the Universal Health Care Law.
“Patients will be forced to go to private hospitals aside from Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center being our referral hospital which at this time has also reached its maximum bed occupancy. The implementation of the Universal Health Care Law on the referral system will be affected and hamper the delivery of basic health care services,” the governor said.
BeGH is the biggest government hospital in the province which provides health services to the residents of Benguet and nearby localities. Being a lone provincial hospital, it serves as the referral hospital in the province of Benguet
“With the existing health pandemic aggravated by the vegetable smuggling and the continuing increase in the prices of all commodities, the people of Benguet has nothing to seek for help and assistance when it comes to their health concerns except the health services and other health programs of the government. In fact most if not all of the people of Benguet are Philhealth -dependent,” the governor added.
Diclas also assured that the provincial government is doing measures and is coordinating with the different officials in the national government to help in the situation of the BeGH.
The PLGU and the Office of Congressman Eric Yap are also looking into the provision of financial assistance to patients in the BeGH thru the Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients, Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation and the Malasakit Center.
Meanwhile, Vice Governor Ericson Felipe believes that the imposition of the suspension is an abuse of discretion.
“We are very sad to hear that it is an imposition of a penalty of a violation in 2011, it is harsh for the community, for the people who are sick because why would we penalize the people on the fault of other persons. We believe it is the abuse of discretion because you let the people suffer, the sick suffer,” Felipe said.
He said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan will have a resolution requesting the President to intervene in behalf of the province. It will make negotiations and possibly commute the suspension to monetary penalty instead. **JDP/RMC- PIA CAR