Pampanga hospitals join no-balance-billing pact

The Department of Health (DoH) and Philippine Health Insurance Corp. have signed an agreement with 17 private hospitals in Pampanga to implement the No Balance Billing (NBB) policy for qualified patients.

Under the agreement, PhilHealth members admitted to ward or basic accommodations at participating hospitals will not be charged additional fees or co-payments for covered services. Their expenses will be covered through PhilHealth benefits and DoH financial assistance, according to the agencies.

The agreement was signed during a ceremony titled “Beyond the Bill: Advancing Quality, Accessible, and Equitable Hospital Care” at the Kingsborough International Convention Center. Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda and Vice Governor Dennis Pineda supported the initiative, alongside DoH Secretary Edwin Mercado and PhilHealth president and CEO Beverly Ho.

DoH Central Luzon data show private hospitals account for 1,951 beds in Pampanga, compared with 1,760 in public hospitals. The agreement brings 52.6 percent of the province’s total hospital-bed capacity under the NBB framework, the report said.

Mercado said private hospitals are important to the government’s health agenda and can help close gaps in access to care.

Ho said PhilHealth was upgrading its systems to address providers’ concerns over payment delays and to make reimbursements faster and more reliable.