Following the official appointment of PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho, the new leadership has issued plans regarding primary reform initiatives aimed at maximizing benefits for members and improving operations. 

Bringing Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) closer to the public

According to Dr. Ho, one of her plans is to bring the YAKAP closer to the public. She stated that PhilHealth members should no longer have to visit a clinic to avail the program.

To reach more people, the new leadership wants to bring the program to schools and workplaces. Dr. Ho also plans to establish more organized Primary Care Services and include YAKAP to more public health programs.

Expanding No Balance Billing (NBB) rates

The new PhilHealth chief aims to focus on identifying government services available to patients. Aside from public hospitals, she also wants to encourage private hospitals to collaborate with PhilHealth to offer NBB for patients. The move intends to give patients more options when seeking health care facilities. 

“Ngayon kasi ang inisip natin ‘kailangan ko pumunta sa public hospital kasi doon lang pwedeng mag-NBB’,” she said

“But actually, there are many private hospitals, for example, that are willing to provide the services at NBB rates,” she added

Expediting licensing and accreditation process for healthcare providers

Dr. Ho also plans to accelerate the licensing and accreditation process of the Department of Health (DOH) and Philippine Health Insurance (PhilHealth) for healthcare providers.

The agency will study whether providers can apply through a single unified platform instead of manually submitting applications through separate systems.

This effort aims to minimize the waiting time and reduce the alleged red tape.

Strengthening workforce

Dr. Ho also plans to strengthen the organization and health workforce, seeking to properly empower and compensate health workers.

Preventing ‘bill shock’

The new PhilHealth leader is also advocating measures to prevent bill shock and aims to ensure full transparency regarding what patients need to pay, as well as the benefits they are eligible to avail.

These measures reflect a commitment to building a more transparent and efficient system, ensuring that members feel the benefits when they need them the most.

With reports from Mia Alonzo