Manila: The Department of Health (DOH) affirmed its support for the proposed amendments to the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act as the House of Representatives passed House Bill (HB) 11357 on its second reading.
According to Philippines News Agency, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa specifically welcomed the amendment introduced by Acting Committee on Appropriations Chair Marikina City 2nd District Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo. This amendment requires the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to compute its budget and salaries based on the benefits paid rather than the amount collected.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., with his background as a former provincial governor, supports these changes. His experience in local government operations has inspired the DOH's active support for the legislative amendments aimed at improving the UHC Act.
HB 11357, titled "An Act Strengthening the Philippine Healthcare System to Achieve Efficiency and Equity, and to Improve Public Health Emergency Preparedness," proposes several amendments to the UHC or Republic Act 11223, which has been in existence for nearly six years.
The bill's counterpart, Senate Bill 2620, passed the Senate on August 27 and will become law once reconciled with SB 2620 and approved by the President.
Key amendments in the House-proposed bill include setting the premium contribution rates for all PhilHealth members at 3.5 percent, down from the current five percent. These rates will be adjusted annually based on actuarial studies reviewed by an independent body and approved by Congress during the budget process.
For migrant workers, whether land- or sea-based, the amendments propose eliminating their premium payments. Instead, their employers will cover 50 percent of the premiums, with the national government covering the remainder.
PhilHealth's administrative expenses, including salaries, will be capped at 7.5 percent of the previous year's total benefit payments, rather than 7.5 percent of total premium collections.
Component cities and municipalities will be allowed to establish and maintain their own Special Health Funds, guided by the DOH in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management and the UHC Coordinating Council (UHC-CC).
A new UHC-CC will be formed, co-chaired by the Secretary of Health and the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, with existing officials as members.
HB 11357 was authored and sponsored by Committee on Health Chair Rep. Ciriaco Gato, Jr. (Lone District of Batanes) and 67 other co-authors. It consolidates 26 house bills filed on the same subject. Rep. Quimbo introduced 13 individual amendments to the measure, all of which were accepted by the sponsor and the majority.
