Senators support Duterte plan to revamp PhilHealth
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Sun, 09 Jun 2019 08:20:58 +0000
Senators are backing President Duterte’s plan to reorganize the ranks of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. amid fresh reports that it funds “ghost” kidney treatments and other fake claims.
Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III welcomed the move as he slammed the Department of Health and the PhilHealth for its inaction on the various schemes of hospitals and doctors to pocket contributions of PhilHealth members.
The Senate chief recalled the DoH and PhilHealth promising that they already addressing the cases on fraudulent insurance claims.
Sotto, during the plenary deliberations on the DoH’s 2019 budget last January, bared receiving a report about a neurologist in South Cotabato who allegedly paid several PhilHealth members to pretend that they are sick to be able to get claims.
He was told the regional PhilHealth office was investigating the scam.
“Anong klaseng imbestigasyon ang ginagawa niyo…Hanggang ngayon wala pang report, eh,” Sotto said.
Sotto said it is high time that PhilHealth leaders be held accountable for the recurring cases of fake claims. “Dahil patuloy na nangyayari, ‘yong leadership ng PhilHealth ang dapat managot diyan. Ibig sabihin kayang-kaya silang lokohin, o kasali sila doon. Alin lang sa dalawang ‘yon?” he said.
“Maaring isa or dalawang beses malusutan, pero dapat doon makakahalata na sila,” he said.
Aside from the PhilHealth, Duterte, he said, should also consider ordering a revamp of the DoH. “Dahil walang nangyayari, mula noon, hanggang ngayon,” Sotto said. (Vanne Terrazola)