Lee to DOH, PhilHealth: Prioritize Healthcare Payments of Indigent Patients, Simplify Processes
Lee to DOH, PhilHealth: Prioritize Healthcare Payments of Indigent Patients, Simplify Processes Cong. Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee has urged the Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth to take decisive action to address the unpaid hospital bills of indigent patients and streamline claim requirements to remove barriers to healthcare access. Lee filed House Resolution No. 2104, highlighting how unpaid bills and bureaucratic delays deprive millions of Filipinos of life-saving medical care. “Hospitals are owed payments, and patients are left to suffer. This is unacceptable under the Universal Health Care Act,” Lee asserted. The solon also stressed that complex requirements disproportionately affect indigent patients, who often lack the resources to navigate administrative processes. “Simplify the system and make it work for the people who need it most. Tulungan natin sila, imbes na pahirapan,” he said. Lee continues to champion reforms to expand health services, including free diagnostic tests and cancer treatment coverage. He remains steadfast in his vision: “Ang gamot at pagpapagamot, dapat libre na, dapat sagot na ng gobyerno. Gamot Mo, Sagot Ko!” #HealthcareReforms #UniversalHealthCare #WiseAdvocacy Healthcare Policy Previous Post Latest Posts 06 Dec 2024 Lee to DOH, PhilHealth: Prioritize Healthcare Payments of Indigent Patients, Simplify Processes 05 Dec 2024 Lee Calls for Streamlined PhilHealth Requirements to Aid Indigent Patients 04 Dec 2024 Lee Urges DOH and PhilHealth to Pay Indigent Patients’ Unpaid Hospital Bills Categories Healthcare Policy Public Health Initiatives Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Healthcare Access and Equity Spread the News
Lee Calls for Streamlined PhilHealth Requirements to Aid Indigent Patients
Lee Calls for Streamlined PhilHealth Requirements to Aid Indigent Patients Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee has filed House Resolution No. 2104, urging the Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth to simplify and liberalize their requirements for hospital claims. He emphasized that current administrative hurdles delay payments to hospitals, denying indigent patients the medical care they need. Lee noted that the Universal Health Care Act, enacted in 2019, mandates accessible and comprehensive health services for all. However, its implementation remains inadequate. “Patients already dealing with illness shouldn’t have to face the added burden of navigating a complicated system to access care,” he remarked. The Bicolano lawmaker also highlighted his success in increasing PhilHealth benefits earlier this year, such as raising hemodialysis coverage from P2,600 to P6,350 per session and expanding breast cancer treatment coverage to P1.4 million. “We’ve made progress, but there’s much more to do. Simplifying these processes is the next critical step,” Lee said. Lee called on DOH and PhilHealth to ensure prompt payments to hospitals, emphasizing the importance of removing barriers to healthcare access. “Let’s make healthcare truly universal,” he concluded. #HealthcareAccess #GamotMoSagotKo #WiseMoves Healthcare Policy Previous Post Latest Posts 05 Dec 2024 Lee Calls for Streamlined PhilHealth Requirements to Aid Indigent Patients 04 Dec 2024 Lee Urges DOH and PhilHealth to Pay Indigent Patients’ Unpaid Hospital Bills 03 Dec 2024 Lee To DOH, PhilHealth: Cover Unpaid Hospital Bills Of Indigent Patients, Streamline Requirements For Claims Categories Healthcare Policy Public Health Initiatives Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Healthcare Access and Equity Spread the News
Lee Demands Urgent UHC Amendments For Better Health Benefits, Lower Member Contributions
Lee Demands Urgent UHC Amendments For Better Health Benefits, Lower Member Contributions “Gamot at pagpapagamot ng Pilipino, dapat sagot ng gobyerno!” This was the statement of Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee as he urged the passage of the amendments on the Republic Act (RA) No. 11223 or the “Universal Healthcare (UHC) Act” to institutionalize the comprehensive and appropriate increase in Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) benefits and lower the contribution of its members, among others. Lee filed House Bill No. 10995 which amends the UHC Act to resolve issues hampering genuine universal healthcare for Filipinos. “Various challenges and issues hinder the objectives of the UHC. These include lack of legal provisions that mandate the regular and periodic review of the responsiveness of benefit packages that should lower the out-of-pocket medical costs of Filipinos, inefficiencies in managing funds, and public health emergencies that disrupt the law’s implementation,” the Bicolano lawmaker lamented. “Ilang taon na mula nang naisabatas ang Universal Healthcare Act pero nandyan pa rin ang matinding pangamba ng mga Pilipino sa pagkakasakit dahil sa takot na malubog sa utang at kahirapan dahil walang pambili ng gamot o pambayad sa ospital. Hindi ito deserve ng Pilipino. Kailangang palakasin pa ang UHC Law para mas mabawasan ang pasanin at alalahanin ng ating mga kababayan sa kanilang kalusugan,” he added. Among the key changes included in Lee’s measure is the provision that the Health Technology Assessment Council will review and assess the amounts of each PhilHealth benefit package and ensure that these are up-to-date. Additionally, HB 10995 seeks to lower the premium contributions of PhilHealth members. Instead of the law’s mandated 5% premium in 2024 and 2025, the amendment pushes for 4% and 4.25% respectively. The proposed bill will likewise give the President the power to suspend PhilHealth premium contribution increases in a state of national emergency, public health emergency, or state of calamity. “Sa pagbubukas ng Kongreso, tututukan po natin ang agarang pagsasabatas ng panukalang ito na kailangan para maabot ang pinaka-layunin ng UHC,” Lee said. “Napakaraming pera ng PhilHealth, dapat ilaan ito di lang sa pagpapalawak ng mga benepisyo para sa mga Pilipino, kundi pati na rin sa pagpapababa ng kontribusyon na isa ring mabigat na pasanin ng marami nating kababayan,” he added. A staunch health advocate, Lee is at the forefront of holding the Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth accountable for its commitments to radically increase health benefits and for fighting for free diagnostic scans, free prescription eyeglasses and at least 80% coverage for cancer treatments and heart procedures, among others. Earlier, the solon from Bicol welcomed the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) by the Supreme Court, halting the fourth and last tranche of PhilHealth fund transfer to the National Treasury, as there can be more funds for the radical expansion of PhilHealth benefits, which he has been consistently pushing for since last year. Lee successfully fought for the 30% increase in PhilHealth benefits, which was implemented last February 14. These include increasing the PhilHealth benefit package for hemodialysis from P2,600 to P6,350 per session and from 90 sessions per year to 156 sessions annually, as well as the increase in breast cancer treatment coverage from P100,000 to P1.4M. “Bawat araw ay marami tayong kababayan ang nangangambang magkasakit o nahihirapan sa karamdaman na hindi man lang nila maibili ng gamot o maipa-check up sa ospital dahil dagdag pa sa gastusin ng pamilya. Karapatan ito ng bawat Pilipino na dapat ipinagkakaloob ng UHC,” Lee remarked. “Hindi na puwede ang kulang-kulang na serbisyo at tingi-tinging dagdag sa mga benepisyong pangkalusugan. Hangad po natin na ang gamot at pagpapagamot ng bawat Pilipino, sagot na ng gobyerno. Gamot Mo, Sagot Ko! Yan ang ating ipinaglalaban, at patuloy natin itong tututukan hanggang sa maramdaman ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na ng mas nangangailangan,” he added. Healthcare Policy Previous PostNext Post Latest Posts 08 Nov 2024 Cong. Manoy Wilbert Lee Secures Free Prescription Glasses in PhilHealth Package, Ensuring Eye Care for All 07 Nov 2024 Lee Blasts DOH For Failure To Submit Comprehensive Plan To Lower Out-Of-Pocket Medical Costs 06 Nov 2024 Cong. Manoy Wilbert Lee’s Push for Free Optometric Services to Benefit 40M Filipinos Categories Healthcare Policy Public Health Initiatives Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Healthcare Access and Equity Spread the News
Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee to Grill DOH Over Delays in PhilHealth Benefits Expansion
Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee to Grill DOH Over Delays in PhilHealth Benefits Expansion During the House Plenary debates on the proposed 2025 budget for the Department of Health (DOH), Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee is set to question the lack of urgency in expanding PhilHealth benefits despite the insurer’s billions in available funds. Lee, a staunch health advocate, has long pushed for the increase in health benefits and inclusion of costly diagnostic tests in PhilHealth’s urgent care packages. “Sa kabila ng bilyon-bilyong pondo, bakit tingi-tingi at pinatatagal ang mga benepisyo?” Lee asked, calling for swift action on much-needed healthcare services. #PhilHealthReforms #HealthAccessForAll #WilbertLeeAdvocacy #DOHAccountability Healthcare Access and Equity Previous PostNext Post Latest Posts 07 Nov 2024 Lee Blasts DOH For Failure To Submit Comprehensive Plan To Lower Out-Of-Pocket Medical Costs 06 Nov 2024 Cong. Manoy Wilbert Lee’s Push for Free Optometric Services to Benefit 40M Filipinos 05 Nov 2024 Cong. Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee Welcomes Inclusion of Free Eyeglasses in PhilHealth Benefits Categories Healthcare Policy Public Health Initiatives Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Healthcare Access and Equity Spread the News