The Department of Health (DOH) said it does not accept guarantee letters but assured that assistance to patients will continue, noting that such letters are honored only in private hospitals with which the agency has a memorandum of agreement.

Speaking at a press briefing, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa discussed the expansion of zero-balance billing to more local government unit (LGU) hospitals. He said the DOH has only P1 billion allocated for the program, while LGU hospitals significantly outnumber DOH-run facilities.

Level 1 hospitals can be supported through increased PhilHealth benefits, but Level 2 and Level 3 hospitals require additional funding due to more complex procedures and higher costs of care.

Herbosa said provinces that have shown strong commitment to universal health care, such as Sarangani, Laguna, and Aklan, have been selected and will be prioritized for the program’s expansion.

The DOH will also prioritize LGU hospitals in provinces without DOH hospitals to ensure wider zero-balance billing coverage. The agency will issue guidelines on how hospitals may utilize the P1 billion fund. Other LGUs may still receive assistance on a per-patient basis through the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program.

Under the arrangement, the DOH will coordinate with medical center chiefs and enter into memoranda of agreement with LGU hospitals. If a DOH hospital reaches full capacity, patients may be transferred to an LGU hospital, where zero-balance billing will still apply.

Under the Zero Balance Billing program, patients admitted to basic or ward accommodations in DOH hospitals are no longer required to pay for medical services, medicines, and doctors’ professional fees, ensuring continued support for Filipinos in need of basic health care.

Herbosa also addressed rumors that he would be replaced as health secretary, saying he continues to carry out President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directives to improve the country’s health care system and will continue serving at the President’s pleasure.

The health chief explained that MAIFIP was created when PhilHealth benefit coverage was still limited, prompting lawmakers to allocate funds to the DOH to support indigent patients. He noted that the no-balance billing program has since expanded and continues to evolve as coverage improves, with existing positions and support mechanisms maintained.

Toward the end of the briefing, Herbosa said the 17 super flu cases detected in the country should not be a cause for concern. He clarified that the DOH confirmed the local cases only after reexamining surveillance data, following reports of a surge in super flu cases in the United States and the United Kingdom.