The president of the Private Hospital Association of Philippines, Inc. (PHAPI) on Tuesday told PhilHealth to pay directly its reimbursement claims instead of directing it through the Debit Credit Payment Method (DCPM), which it claimed favors the institution more than private hospitals.
The DCPM is a method of payment from PhilHealth which Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said will expedite the reimbursement for legitimate claims from private hospitals.
A total of 182 private hospitals have signed up and agreed to participate in the scheme, according to Duque, who is also encouraging more hospitals to join it.
But Dr. Jose De Grano, president of PHAPI, explained that they are not signing up for the scheme for it appears to favor PhilHealth more than private institutions.
He also questioned why they are asked to sign for what appears to be a promissory note.
"Nakasaad po doon sa mga provisions po nitong DCPM na to na at anytime pwede po nilang i-suspend 'yung payment ng DCPM, kung ano man pong maisipang dahilan nila," De Grano told DZRH in an interview.
(It says there in the provisions of the DCPM that at any time they can suspend the payment of DCPM for whatever reason that they can think of.)
"Sa tingin po namin ito'y hindi katanggap-tanggap sa ating mga private hospitals dahil po parang masyadong pabor po sa PhilHealth," he added.
(We think this is not acceptable to private hospitals because it favors PhilHealth more.)
According to De Grano, PhilHealth should just directly pay private hospitals instead of making them sign up for the scheme.
"Dapat po ang gawin nila wag nang padaanin sa DCPM, bayaran na lang po nila kung ano ang sa tingin nila ay dapat nilang bayaran," he proposed.
(What they should do is don’t pay using the DCPM. They should just pay what they think is what they need to pay.)
He made the following remarks after encouraging other private hospitals to join their five-day "PhilHealth holiday" starting January 1 in support of other hospitals protesting over unpaid claims.
Duque urged them to halt their plan, and even expressed willingness to sit down with De Grano and talk over the issue.
The PHAPI president, in response, said they are "open" to such talks that could help them find an agreement.
"Sa amin naman po kami ay open sa mga pag-uusap na yan," he said. "Pero siyempre po kung magkakaroon po tayo ng pag-uusap meron po kaming ipo-propose sa kanila na sa ganun po ay kung magkasundo kami dun sa aming pag-uusapan eh di siguro po kaya po nating iresolba itong problemang ito ngayon."
(For us, we are open to such talks. However, if talks are held then we will make a proposal that if we agree on it could maybe resolve our problem now.)
According to De Grano, a fair deal between PhilHealth and private hospitals will make them continue their transactions with the institution.
"Kung magkakaroon po tayo ng isang mas makahulugan at patas na kasunduan between PhilHealth and private hospitals ay pwede naman po sigurong ipagpatuloy 'yung pakikipag-ugnayan namin sa PhilHealth," he said.
(If we can have a more meaningful and fairer deal between PhilHealth and private hospitals, then maybe we can continue transacting with PhilHealth.)
