Baguio: The Health Services Office (HSO) in Baguio is actively onboarding private hospitals and strengthening the city's health care provider network (HCPN) to ensure that residents benefit from the health insurance system under the Universal Health Care Law (UHCL). Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, the city health officer, emphasized the initiative's aim to streamline the referral process for clients, transferring the responsibility of paperwork from patients to the HSO and the involved institution, facilitating fund transfers to private hospitals.
According to Philippines News Agency, Brillantes made these remarks during the 3rd Baguio City Health Care Provider Network Summit held at the Baguio Country Club. This biennial event saw participation from officers and doctors of three primary tertiary hospitals in Baguio-Saint Louis University Hospital of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame de Chartres Hospital, and Pines City Doctors Hospital-as well as representatives from the Camp Dangwa Hospital and the infirmary of the Philippine Military Academy.
The HCPN, primarily comprising private hospitals, serves as a referral network for patients from primary health facilities like health centers before they proceed to the apex hospital, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), if necessary. Brillantes highlighted the redefined role of the HCPN in the full implementation of the UHC, focusing on the referral system, system interoperability, and financing mechanisms.
Brillantes further explained that patients are referred to HCPN partners like hospitals, where services are not billed directly to the patients but to the HSO, relieving patients of immediate financial burdens and allowing them to focus on recovery. However, patients choosing private HCPN referrals face a co-payment ranging from PHP600 to PHP800, unlike referrals to BGHMC, where expenses are entirely covered.
Brillantes emphasized the importance of enhancing the information campaign to educate residents about the referral system and alleviate fears regarding costs under the Universal Health Care law, ensuring that health services are accessible to all Filipinos.
Dr. Dominga Gadgad, regional vice president of PhilHealth-Cordillera, reiterated during the open forum that the goal of the UHC is to ensure all individuals are PhilHealth members, benefitting not only from treatment but also from preventive care services. She urged the city health office to expedite the procurement of equipment for services and medicine supplies, noting that all district health centers in the city are PhilHealth and YAKAP (Yaman ng Kalusugan Program) providers.
