Contreras: No problem with PhilHealth refunds
ROXAS CITY – Capiz Emmanuel Hospital Administrator Jessie Contreras said they have not experienced the predicament of private hospitals in the National Capital Region and Luzon that have complained of delayed reimbursements from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.
“We have amicably settled all our problems with PhilHealth Regional Manager Marlyn Geduspan,” Contreras said.
He said the reimbursements of the PhilHealth to the CEH patients are no longer a problem because the PhilHealth regional office under Geduspan has been very attentive to the needs of hospitals in Western Visayas.
Contreras, executive national vice president of Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, said that during their recent national conference in Baguio City, PHAP president Rustico Jimenez presented their problem in Luzon on the delayed PhilHealth reimbursements to patients.
The conference was also attended by Iloilo Mission Hospital administrator, Dr. Elmer Pedregosa, PHAP vice president for Western Visayas.
In PHAP Resolution No. 001-2010, signed by Jimenez, it is stated that the PHAP members lamented the delayed payment of their respective PhilHealth claims despite repeated promises by the agency’s regional directors and national officers.
The resolution also strongly prayed to the Office of the President of the Philippines that the salaries and allowances and emoluments being received by the officers of the PhilHealth be reviewed and made public in the spirit of transparency.
However, Contreras said the resolution was solely signed by Jimenez, not by officers and members of the PHAP.
Meanwhile, in response to the Jimenez resolution, Ruben John Basa, PhilHealth group vice president for corporate affairs, said in a letter that the processing of PhilHealth claims is 45 days to 60 days.
However, due to the volume of claims, sometimes they may incur delays.*
