Department of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa emphasized that guarantee letters are no longer required at DOH-accredited hospitals due to the implementation of the Zero Balance Billing Program.

The one billion pesos allocated to the agency will significantly support the program's implementation in local government hospitals.

"Constituents are free to ask assistance from their elected officials. But do they need a guarantee letter from them to get assistance, no. They can go straight to the Department of Health and we will help them if they need help and if we have the funds, we will provide the funds if they are qualified to get the funds," Herbosa stated.

["constituents are free to ask assistance from their elected officials. But do they need a guarantee letter from them to get assistance, no. They can go straight to the Department of Health and we will help them if they need help and if we have the funds, we will provide the funds if they are qualified to get the funds."]

Zero balance billing is already in effect

The DOH will not prevent anyone from approaching elected officials for medical financial assistance through guarantee letters (GL). However, according to Health Secretary Herbosa, guarantee letters are no longer necessary at DOH hospitals because the government is already implementing the Zero Balance Billing Program.

"So, sa taumbayan, zero balance billing na po ang inutos ng Presidente, bayad na ang bill ninyo, kahit P2 million, P2.7 million iyong pinakamalaking bill na binayaran ng DOH para sa pasyente, zero balance, magpa-admit kayo sa basic accommodation at zero balance po, hindi kayo iwiwithold ng treatment, treatment will be given to you," the Secretary explained.

["So, to the public, zero balance billing has been ordered by the President—your bill is paid, even if it's P2 million, P2.7 million is the largest bill that DOH has paid for a patient, zero balance. Admit yourself to basic accommodation and it's zero balance, you will not be withheld treatment, treatment will be given to you."]

The President has mandated zero balance billing, meaning patients' bills are covered—even amounts as high as P2 million or P2.7 million, the largest bill DOH has paid for a patient. Patients admitted to basic accommodation will have zero balance and will not be denied treatment.

MAIFIP guidelines expected soon

The Secretary announced that guidelines for the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) are expected to be released before the end of January or by mid-February.

He stressed that they will strictly implement Section 19 of the 2026 General Appropriations Act, which prohibits politicians from participating in the distribution of any type of financial aid.

The DOH plans to allocate MAIFIP funds for patients in semi-private hospital accommodations.

"So, in the IRR that we're drafting for the support fund to LGU hospitals, sa MAIP we are going to use basic accommodation and semi-private. Pero kung naka-suite room ka at single room palagay ko hindi ka qualified to use medical assistance fund from your tax money – tax money ninyo iyan," Herbosa said.

["So, in the IRR that we're drafting for the support fund to LGU hospitals, in MAIFIP we are going to use basic accommodation and semi-private. But if you're in a suite room or single room, I don't think you're qualified to use medical assistance fund from your tax money—that's your tax money."]

PhilHealth speeds up hospital claims processing

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has accelerated the payment of hospital claims to support the zero balance billing implementation.

PhilHealth CEO and President Dr. Edwin Mercado explained that hospitals have seen faster payments, with even doctors' professional fees substantially covered. Many facilities have added Z package offerings for conditions like acute myocardial infarction.

"At dahil po nakita na po nila na mabilis po iyong bayad at nakikinabang nga po iyong even the professional fees of the doctors at substantially covered, marami na pong nadagdag na mga facilities na nag-o-offer nitong ating Z package like acute myocardial infarct. Kahit po private hospital ngayon nag-no, no balance bill na, kasi nakikita po nila iyong iba pong pasyente lumilipat na ng ibang hospital, so iyong po iyong market pressure na pati ho iyong private hospital nag-e-engage na," Mercado stated.

["And because they've seen that the payment is fast and even the professional fees of the doctors are substantially covered, many facilities have added our Z package offerings like acute myocardial infarction. Even private hospitals now are offering no balance billing, because they see other patients transferring to other hospitals, so that's the market pressure that even private hospitals are now engaging."]

Even private hospitals are now offering no balance billing due to market pressure, as they've observed patients transferring to other hospitals.

P1 billion allocated for local government hospitals

The one billion pesos allocated for the Zero Balance Billing Program will be a major assistance to DOH, with local government hospitals being the primary beneficiaries, according to Secretary Herbosa.

"For the Level 1 Hospitals, ang feeling namin kaya na siyang i-support noong increased benefits of PhilHealth. So, alam iyon ng mga local chief executives. But for LGUs that have Level 2 and Level 3 Hospitals, ito iyong mas complex procedures and higher cost of care sila iyong gagamitin nating pilot," the Secretary said.

["For the Level 1 Hospitals, we feel they can be supported by the increased benefits of PhilHealth. So, the local chief executives know that. But for LGUs that have Level 2 and Level 3 Hospitals, these handle more complex procedures and higher cost of care—they're the ones we'll use as pilots."]

Level 1 hospitals can be supported by PhilHealth's increased benefits, which local chief executives are aware of. However, Level 2 and Level 3 hospitals, which handle more complex procedures and higher costs of care, will be used as pilots for the program.

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